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GERMANY'S VIOLATIONS 
OF THE LAWS OF WAR 

1914-15 



_ 

GERMANY'S VIOLATIONS 
OF THE LAWS OF WAR 

1914-15 

COMPILED UNDER THE AUSPICES 

OF THE FRENCH MINISTRY 

OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS 



TRANSLATED AND WITH AN INTRODUCTION 
BY 

J. O. P. BLAND 



WITH FACSIMILES OF DOCUMENTS 



G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS 

NEW YORK AND LONDON 

Ube Iknicfeerbocfeer press 

1915 



- .4^ 



•& 



Copyright, 1915 

BY 

G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS 



tEbe TRnfcfterbocfecr fl>ress, mew 19orb 

©CI.A410907 

OCT -7 1915 



INTRODUCTION TO THE ENGLISH EDITION 

IN compiling and publishing the present work, the 
French Government aims at bringing into full 
relief the fact with which, above all others, the 
Powers will have to deal hereafter, when they come to 
the discussion of the new frontiers and the terms of 
peace; namely, that as a matter of deliberate and 
predetermined policy the German Government and 
the German army have persistently sanctioned the 
systematic violation of the Geneva and Hague Conven- 
tions. It is this all-important fact, herein set forth 
and proved, which completely justifies the Allies in 
their proclaimed determination not to sheathe the sword 
nor to listen to any^ proposals of mediation, until the 
power of German militarism shall have been finally 
overthrown. It is the object of the French Government, 
by irrefutable evidence, to bring home this vital 
fact so forcibly to the public conscience of neutral 
States, that they, in common with the Allies, may 
realize that there can never be a peace worthy of the 
name, nor any hope of the attainment of humanitarian 
ideals, until the intolerable domination of Junkerdom 



vi Introduction 

has been utterly destroyed. The documents which 
have been brought together in this book prove beyond 
all possibility of doubt that the German Government 
has, on the one hand, repeatedly pledged itself to up- 
hold philanthropic conventions agreed upon by the 
Powers at The Hague and to respect the rights thereby 
reserved to neutral States, while, on the other, it has 
deliberately prepared to wage war — to quote its own 
words — "by all methods which promote the attainment 
of its object, subject only to such restraints as it 
imposes on itself in its own interest." What those re- 
straints have been the world has seen with ever-increas- 
ing horror. The unspeakable cruelties practised upon 
defenceless civilians ; the ill-treatment of prisoners ; the 
killing of wounded men upon the field of battle; the 
attacks on unarmed ships, neutral as well as enemies; 
the firing upon the Red Cross and upon British sailors 
engaged in the rescue of Germans; the sinking of the 
Lusitania ; the bombardment of undefended towns ; 
the poisoning of wells and the use of asphyxiating gas 
and vitriol; all these and other unspeakable things 
have taught the world to perceive the nature of the 
blood-and-iron civilization which victorious Germany 
would have imposed upon Europe. They have proved 
that if the wars of the future are by any means to be 
redeemed from utter barbarism, if humanitarian prin- 
ciples are by any means to be made an effective restraint 
upon those who appeal to force, Germany must be 



Introduction vii 

brought in penitential garb before the tribunal of the 
nations and convicted of her treacherous perjury. 
And conviction must be followed by stern punishment 
meted out to her rulers and responsible agents. 

The collective intelligence and philanthropy of civil- 
ized nations, recorded in the several conventions of 
The Hague and in the international laws of war, have 
never attempted to base any definite hopes upon the 
Utopian vision of a world in which wars shall cease to 
be waged as part of the eternal struggle for existence. 
But they have unanimously assumed, and the Powers 
through their representative statesmen have declared, 
their desire and their intention, "within the measure of 
tfoeir ability, of mitigating the evils inseparable from 
war, of suppressing its useless hardships, and of ameli- 
orating the lot of wounded soldiers on the field of battle." 
To those intentions Germany has solemnly subscribed; 
nevertheless, waging a war of her own choosing, she 
has ruthlessly and systematically ignored them. Not 
by the independent acts of undisciplined individuals, 
not as the result of misunderstandings or in the heat of 
fierce passions evoked in battle, but by the cold-blooded 
premeditation of general orders, prepared for the army 
in time of peace, by the deliberate adoption of methods 
of barbarism which civilization has denounced, the Ger- 
man nation stands to-day forsworn at the bar of inter- 
national justice, a pariah among the nations. The 
evidence which the French Government has brought 



viii Introduction 

together and published in this book makes the shameful 
indictment complete. It includes little which impar- 
tial opinion can ascribe to the passion or prejudice of 
hostile witnesses. Most of these documents, it will be 
observed, are of German origin; they deal only with 
the war on land and with Germany's flagrant violations, 
by order of responsible authority, of her definite pledges 
recorded in Treaties and in the Conventions of The 
Hague. On the one side, these pledges are textually 
reproduced; on the other, the time, place, and manner 
of their violation. The reader will find herein no ela- 
borate weaving of arguments, no sensational appeal to 
the emotions, no fine writing or ex parte pleading; 
nothing but a methodical statement of damning facts, 
supported in most cases by the evidence of German 
witnesses and German documents. Where documents 
of non-German origin are given, their evidence is gener- 
ally of a nature to confirm the German admissions in 
specific cases by means of the official reports of the 
examination under oath of eye-witnesses. 

Devoid of all sensationalism and circumstantial 
evidence, this method of framing the indictment of 
civilization against Germany has appealed to the French 
Government as best calculated to create an intelligent 
force of dispassionate opinion abroad, and hereafter 
to convince even the disillusioned German people of 
the heinousness of the crimes committed in their name 
by the German Government and by the Moloch of 



Introduction ix. 

militarism to which they have sacrificed their first- 
born, as part of a deliberately planned system of ruthless 
warfare. It would have been an easy matter to aggra- 
vate the indictment, to place on record the sworn testi- 
mony of countless victims of the cruelty and lust of 
individual Germans in Belgium and Northern France. 
It would have been easy to give chapter and verse to 
prove innumerable instances in which Germany has 
violated her solemn pledges in regard to the restricted 
use of mines at sea, to the protection of non-combatants, 
and to her proclaimed intention ' ' to serve the interests 
of humanity and to lessen the rigours and disasters of 
war." But the French Government, clearly perceiving 
the importance of the psychological factor, has confined 
itself to a clear line of direct indictment and carefully 
avoided all debatable side-issues. 

This procedure has been followed for two reasons. 
Firstly, because it is realized that the German Govern- 
ment, having organized the dissemination of falsehood 
as a department of State, having made barefaced men- 
dacity a branch of its public service, will not hesitate 
for a moment to repudiate and deny, as malicious inven- 
tions of the enemy, such proofs of German barbarism 
as may be produced either by its victims or by sympa- 
thetic witnesses. It will undoubtedly deny the evi- 
dence of impartial neutrals wheresoever unpalatable to 
Germany, and it will endeavour to divert the world's 
attention from horrors such as have been revealed in 



x Introduction 

the Report of Lord Bryce's Committee by indicting 
violent countercharges of barbarism against the Allies. 
Neither the Press Bureau nor the State-fed Professors 
of Berlin will hesitate to give publicity to any falsehood 
which may appear to them calculated to serve their 
purposes at home and abroad. By recklessly multi- 
plying their accusations, by ascribing to individual Bel- 
gians or Frenchmen actual or imaginary offences against 
the laws of war, and by boldly denying the unlaw- 
fulness of their own proceedings, they will endeavour to 
create confusion of the main issue and to cause the vital 
fact to be forgotten, that the outrages committed by 
Germans are essentially different from those which may 
be alleged or proved against other belligerents, in that 
they are not the result of individual initiative but of a 
State-ordered and systematic policy. Secondly, it is 
realized that the public mind, especially in neutral 
countries, has been surfeited with charges and counter- 
charges of inhuman cruelties; that, in every war, the 
ever-increasing tension of hostility tends to create on 
both sides, especially amongst non-combatants, a type 
of acute sensibility, in which imagination becomes 
stimulated to an extraordinary degree. Furthermore, 
public opinion in neutral countries is unmistakably 
sensible of the fact that the Press, and sometimes the 
politicians, of the belligerent countries are instinctively 
disposed to stimulate enthusiasm for their national 
cause and a martial spirit by sensational accusations of 



Introduction xi 

barbarism. In every war such charges and counter- 
charges are continually made, and they naturally be- 
come embittered as the struggle proceeds. At the 
beginning of the present war, the German Press lashed 
its credulous readers into a state of passionate indigna- 
tion by fabricated accounts of the mutilation of wound- 
ed Germans by the Belgians. Similarly at the outset, 
in France, the wrath of the army and of civilians was 
fanned to white heat by the dissemination of stories, 
unsupported by reliable evidence, of the cutting off 
of children's hands and of eye-gouging by the Germans. 
Heaven knows that, in the cold-blooded atrocities ac- 
tually committed by official orders, the Germans have 
supplied ample ground for fertile seeds of hatred and 
revenge; but the effect of these sensational excesses of 
excited imagination, while producing among the bellige- 
rents a natural tendency to individual reprisals, has 
been to create in neutral countries a certain reaction of 
scepticism and a general suspicion of all accusations 
that are not supported by strictly impartial evidence. 
At a time when public opinion in the belligerent coun- 
tries is naturally most sensitive to "mass-suggestions" 
of hatred, it is realized by those who have no part or 
lot in the struggle that exaggerations and suppressions 
of fact on both sides are inevitable. 

This being so, the French Government has compiled 
its present indictment of Germany's methods of waging 
war, dispensing as far as possible with the evidence of 



xif Introduction 

interested or friendly witnesses. Its object is to convict 
the German Government of calculated bad faith, and 
the German army of criminal outrages, by the evidence 
of their own recorded words and deeds. Even the best 
-trained official liars will find it difficult to explain away 
the record of barbarism left by German soldiers in docu- 
ments which the French Government holds at the dis- 
posal of the neutral Powers. 

And what good purpose, it may be asked, will be 
served by the framing and proving of this indictment? 
Evidently, so long as Germany remains undefeated, 
there can be no effective redress for these outrages, nor 
any means of compelling her to respect the principles 
of justice and humanity. Until she is utterly broken 
and repentant, there can be no safety for the lives and 
property of non-combatants by land or by sea. Un- 
checked by any of the humane considerations which 
have been embodied in the laws of civilized States, she 
will continue to apply all her murderous inventions to 
purposes of indiscriminate destruction. Nothing but 
her final defeat will convince her of the criminal folly 
of her barbarous methods of warfare. But the object 
which the French Government has in view, looking to 
the end of the war and, far beyond it, to the re-estab- 
lishment of European civilization, upon foundations 
more lasting than those of the past, is to convince the 
world at large that there can never be any protective 
virtue in international Conventions unless and until 



Introduction xiii 

all civilized nations unite in stern condemnation of the 
insensate militarism which Germany represents. By 
proving that the spirit which animates this type of 
militarism is utterly destitute of every principle of 
chivalry and decency, it hopes to create and to solidify 
against it so strong a force of universal censure, that 
humanity may henceforward be protected against all 
possibility of its revival. It hopes to demonstrate the 
truth that all the philanthropic Conventions of The 
Hague are nothing worth unless henceforth their strict 
observance shall be held to be a matter of immediate 
interest and national honour to every country which 
has ratified them, and that none who profess and call 
themselves Christians shall be justified in remaining 
idle spectators of their wanton violation. 

Too long the world has suffered the heavy burden of 
Germany's insatiate ambition and her ruthless applica- 
tion of brutal force to serve its avowed ends of conquest 
and spoliation. Too long has humanity lulled itself 
in the belief that the devastating methods pursued by 
the Prussians in 1870 had been definitely relegated to 
the past and that, despite their unceasing preparations 
for war, the German people might be trusted to abide 
by the solemn pledges which bound them to abstain 
from flagrant excesses of cruelty towards non-combat- 
ants and savage ill-treatment of prisoners and wounded 
men. By the testimonyof a cloud of witnesses, we now 
know that the spirit of the Hun of today is the same 



xiv Introduction 

merciless spirit which deliberately planned the outrages 
inflicted upon the civilian population of France forty- 
five years ago. If anything, it has since then become 
more brutally arrogant, more cynicalfy contemptuous 
of the rights of individuals and the laws of nations. 

Let it not be forgotten that the Conferences of the 
nations at The Hague and the Conventions thereby 
established were prompted in the first instance by a 
world-wide condemnation of the outrages which the 
relentless Prussian conquerors had inflicted upon the 
non-combatant population of France in 1870. They 
were an expression of the civilized world's deep sense of 
pity for the innocent victims of war and of its desire to 
mitigate the hardships of their lot in future. The 
rules of warfare laid down (and subscribed to by Ger- 
many) in the several Hague Conventions embody, in 
fact, a consensus of international opinion that the 
methods of warfare practised by Germany against 
France constituted a crime against civilization and the 
fundamental instincts of humanity. It is important 
in determining the future attitude of the Powers to- 
wards Germany and her rulers, to bear in mind the fact 
that her savage brutality in the present war and her 
persistent violation of Treaties, are the inevitable re- 
sults of a military system and a political code deliber- 
ately adopted and systematically inculcated for the past 
fifty years. Whilst professing humanitarian ideals 
and pledging herself to wage war in accordance with 



Introduction xv 

civilized usage, she has been steadily preparing to wage 
it even more barbarously than in 1870, unrestrained 
by any laws of God or man. 

Sir Edward Hamley, in a letter published by the 
Times in January, 1871, described the methods which 
Germany had pursued to terrorize and devastate the 
territories of France, and suggested the necessity of 
international legislation to "mitigate the severities 
which a relentless conqueror might inflict." The fol- 
lowing extract from his letter is worthy of reproduction 
today : 

" The 'laws of war,' as promulgated by the Prussians, 
may be condensed in the case of invasion into the gen- 
eral axiom that the population of the invaded country 
lose their rights of property and of personal security, 
while the persons and effects of the invaders become 
absolutely sacred. In practice, this takes the two dis- 
tinct forms of the law of requisition and the law of 
penalty for resistance. Every species of movable pro- 
perty which any district held by the invader contains, 
is subject to the demands of the commander of the 
troops that occupy it. This property is liable to be 
transported to particular points by the horses and 
vehicles of the inhabitants, which always form an im- 
portant item in the booty. The penalty for non- 
compliance or tardy compliance with a requisition, is 
a pecuniary fine. For the payment of this, the chief 
inhabitants are seized as hostages. The town or vil- 
lage, the inhabitants of which protect their property, 



xvi Introduction 

is to be burnt. The town or village, in which invading 
troops have suffered themselves to be surprised, is to 
be burnt. The district in which damage is done to 
bridges, roads, or railways, is to be fined or devastated. 
The inhabitants who do the damage are to be put to 
death. Everybody taken with arms and not wearing 
a recognized uniform is to be put to death. All these 
things, are they not written in the orders issued by Prus- 
sian chiefs, and have not these orders been punctually 
executed ? 

"In ordinary cases, to confiscate property by force, 
to burn buildings and stores, and to put people to death, 
for reasons such as those quoted, are acts bearing names 
which need not be mentioned. It is difficult to say 
why these acts should lose their character if committed 
by invaders. And it is to be observed that the enforce- 
ment of these laws of war is not merely the annulling 
of ordinary law, but the inversion of it. For whereas 
a man in all peaceful countries is entitled and encour- 
aged to defend his own property and person, while he 
who assails them does so at his own proper risk, in this 
case defence suddenly becomes a crime, to be visited 
by the extremest penalties, and it is the aggressor who 
is to be protected by laws of extraordinary severity. 

"That placid and home-loving race, which the world 
believed to be intent chiefly on philosophic dreams, now 
appears as insatiable of blood and dominion as the 
First Napoleon. . . . 

" If it be asked how the excesses of a conqueror who 
commands such toleration and respect are to be re- 
strained, I answer — not by dwelling chiefly on the tri- 



Introduction xvii 

umphs of his arms and ignoring the path which he has 
trod to them, but by proclaiming loudly that the system 
of warfare pursued is a detestable anachronism; that 
an ineffaceable stigma attaches to the army which 
practises and the nation which sanctions it, and that 
the 'honourable peace' which the Prussian Monarch 
desires is hardly possible with Paris burning at his feet 
and France ruined behind him. Is he not a conqueror 
of the kind of whom we have heard of old, 'who would 
make a solitude and call it peace'?" 

It is the purpose of the present work to show that 
these barbarous methods of devastation, forsworn and 
forbidden to-day by international agreement, have been 
pursued with aggravated intensity by the German army 
and the German Government as part of their "hacking 
through" policy in the present war, and that the stigma 
which attached to them in 1870 is today increased a 
thousand -fold. In recognition of this fact, the Premier 
of Great Britain has now solemnly pledged his word that 
full reparation will eventually be exacted from all per- 
sons, whatever their position, who can be shown to 
have been responsible for these violations of the fun- 
damental usages of civilized warfare. The evidence 
which has been collected in this book is chiefly intended 
to prove the direct responsibility of the German War 
Lord and his General Staff for these crimes, as well as 
the blood-guiltiness of specified individual officers. 
It is hoped and believed that the nature of this evidence 



xviii Introduction 

and the enormity of the crimes recorded will make it 
impossible hereafter for any short-sighted sentimental- 
ists in our midst, or in neutral countries, to obtain a 
hearing when they advocate a policy of gentle magnan- 
imity and kindly consideration towards the nation 
which has thus outraged the conscience of the civilized 
world. The present war will not end war; it will not 
kill the instincts of militarism in Europe or in Asia. All 
we can work and hope for is to make the world a better 
place to live in and the profession of arms a nobler 
calling, by the utter destruction of the type of mili- 
tarism which has been created and maintained by 
Prussia's Junkerdom. 

But this destruction can never be completely achieved 
by force of arms alone. It must be sought rather in 
the stimulation of a higher type of national conscience, 
a clearer recognition of the fundamental rights and 
duties of the individual citizen, and this not only in 
Germany, where the disease of Junkerdom has taken 
its deepest roots, but in every civilized country which 
professes to set an example to the "lesser breeds with- 
out the law." Only by a systematic process of educa- 
tion can the principles embodied in The Hague Conven- 
tions become a vital force in the world. Prussia's type 
of militarism is, indeed, nothing but the outward and 
visible sign of an inward and spiritual disease, a disease 
of our congested civilization, which, like any physical 
infection, must be fought not only by remedial measures 



Introduction xix 

but by organized efforts of preventive education. It 
will not suffice to defeat Germany in war. Unless and 
until a strong moral reaction against Junkerdom can 
be brought about in the soul of her people, human- 
ity will be compelled to stand on guard against 
its ever-recurring treasons, stratagems, and spoils. 
There can be no permanent reconciliation between 
the German and the non-German conception of 
civilization, between Christian ideals and German 
f rightfulness. 

This dignified appeal submitted by the French 
Government to the impartial judgment of civilization 
and posterity, can hardly fail to achieve its purpose. 
Its judicially recorded evidence of the countless cold- 
blooded crimes perpetrated by the German army, 
acting under the orders of responsible authority, must 
evoke an immediate and powerful response all over the 
world, uniting the nations in a new and firm determina- 
tion that The Hague Conventions of the future shall be 
something more than the pious expression of irrespon- 
sible aspirations, and that until Germany shall have 
learned to respect them in deed as well as in word she 
must remain morally ostracized, an outcast from civi- 
lization. From the stricken fields of Belgium and 
France comes a message to the nations which shall 
surely be heard, the bitter cry of defenceless women 
and children driven from their homes, of prisoners 
tortured and put to death, or wounded men foully 



xx Introduction 

slain in cold blood by the order of German generals. 
Surely these 

Will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued, against 
The deep damnation of their taking-off , 
And pity, like a naked new-born babe, 
Striding the blast, or heaven's cherubim, horsed 
Upon the sightless couriers of the air, 
Shall blow the horrid deed in every eye. 

J. O. P. Bland. 



PREFACE 

ON July 29, 1899, Count Minister signed at The 
Hague, in the name of the German Empire, 
the "Convention concerning the laws and 
customs of war on land," this being the first 
occasion on which the civilized nations had fully- 
recorded their mutual undertaking to do, and not to 
do, certain things, as definite obligations binding upon 
belligerents. 

The signatory Powers placed full confidence in this 
agreement and regarded it as invested with full author- 
ity until, in 1902, the General Staff of the German army 
published a book which was calculated to surprise and 
disturb them. This work is a manual entitled Kriegs- 
brauch im Landkriege {The Laws of War on Land). 1 
Against our written laws and the provisions elaborated 
in time of peace by "jurists," 2 this work sets up the 

1 "Kriegsbrauch im Landkriege," No. 31 of the collection entitled 
Kriegsgeschichtliche Einzelschriften, herausgegeben vom Grossen General- 
stabe (Kriegesgeschichtliche Abteilung 1), Berlin, E. S. Mittler und Sohn, 
8vo, pp. 75. Translated into English by J. H. Morgan, M.A. The Ger- 
man War-Book, with a critical introduction, London, John Murray, 1915. 

2 Note by Translator: Maitre Edouard Clunet has summarized 
the arguments of international jurists, and the consensus of opinion 



xxii Preface 

"custom and the hereditary tradition" of the German 
race. It puts the German officer on his guard against 
the "humanitarian ideas" (humanitdre Anschauungen, 
p. 3) which inspired the Conferences of Geneva, of 
Brussels, and The Hague, and it lays down for him rules 
of conduct which very frequently, even in essential 
matters, are opposed to the stipulations of the Conven- 
tion of 1899, and this although that Convention bears 
the signature of the German Empire, and was drawn up 
by representatives of the Powers, among whom were 
not only "jurists" but soldiers. 

The publication of this manual produced a marked 
sensation, and when the Conference of The Hague 
came together again in 1907, the delegates of the Powers 
had intended to ask Germany for explanations on the 
subject. But the German representative, Baron Mar- 
schall von Bieberstein, forestalled them: to cut short 
any discussion of the matter, he put forward a proposal 

amongst civilized men in defining as follows the origin and objects of 
the "common law" of nations. 

"By the very fact of their co-existence in multiple, homogeneous, 
and independent groups, modern nations have become alive not only 
to their rights but to their obligations. To avoid anarchy, or sterile, 
endless, sanguinary strife, modern nations have followed, in time of 
war as well as in time of peace, certain customs and traditions. Con- 
tinued conformity to these rules of conduct has resulted in the creation 
of a kind of common law, which presents the greater resistance to nega- 
tive criticism because it is purely empiric. From the interpenetration 
of peoples by the communication of ideas, by the contact of individuals, 
by the dovetailing of moral and material factors, there has resulted a 
formidable mingling of interests, sentiments, and needs." This is the 
common law of civilized nations, of the maxima respublica gentium. 



Preface xxiii 

which made it possible to atone for any violation of the 
rules of The Hague by means of pecuniary payment. 
This proposition, accepted by the Conference, is set 
forth in Article 3 of Convention IV. of 1907, as 
follows : 

"A belligerent party which violates the provisions 
of the said Regulations shall, if the case demands, be 
liable to pay compensation. It shall be responsible 
for all acts committed by persons forming part of its 
armed forces." 

Official Germany thus publicly repudiated the theo- 
ries set forth in its Kriegsbrauch im Landkriege. Never- 
theless, so far as the French Government is aware, no 
amended edition of this book has ever been published, 
nor has it been replaced by any new manual. And 
whilst, on the one hand, the Government of the French 
Republic promoted the publication of a manual for 
French officers, founded in its entirety on the rules of 
The Hague, on the other hand, the Kriegsbrauch im 
Landkriege continued to place before the German army 
the doctrine advocated by its highest authorities. 
Seen in this light, the proposal put forward by Baron 
Marschall von Bieberstein was merely a blind to deceive 
the signatory Powers. 

It will thus be seen that, even in time of peace, Ger- 
many, whilst solemnly undertaking to observe The 
Hague Convention, was deliberately planning to violate 



xxiv Preface 

it. 1 A Commission appointed by the French Govern- 
ment, September 23, 1914, was entrusted with the task 
of enquiring on the spot into the breaches of inter- 
national law committed by the enemy. This Commis- 
sion, consisting of Messrs. Georges Payelle, Chief 
President of the Cour des Comptes; Armand Mollard, 
Minister Plenipotentiary; Georges Maringer, Coun- 
cillor of State; and Edmond Paillot, Councillor of the 
Cour de Cassation, has collected a considerable num- 
ber of instances, and incorporated them in weighty 
reports which demonstrate the extent and gravity of 
the crimes in question. These were -published in four 
instalments on December 17, 1914, and on March 8, 
May 1, and May 8, 1915, respectively. The present 
work goes to prove the extent and serious nature of 
the violations which have occurred. 

In the present publication there will be found about 
a hundred documents, which have been taken almost 
at random from amongst hundreds of others no less 
convincing. Reports by French officers and soldiers, 
sworn statements by French citizens, proclamations 
and orders of the day by German commanding officers, 
and the proofs and admissions supplied by the diaries 
and letters of German soldiers; all these documents 

1 Germany signed and ratified this convention with the reservation 
of a single Article, viz. Article 44, of which, therefore, no mention will 
be made in the present work (vide the Yellow Book entitled Documents 
diplomatiques, Conference internationale de la paix, Paris, Imprimerie 
Nationale, 1899-1908, p. 270). 



Preface xxv 

possess in themselves a kind of authority to which, 
generally speaking, there is no possible reply. 

They are divided into several chapters, and at the 
beginning of each chapter are quoted certain articles 
of The Hague Convention, in such manner that the 
conflict between the undertakings given by Germany 
and the deeds committed by Germany will be clearly 
manifested. 

Under the following ten headings are set forth not 
all, but a certain number of the violations of the laws 
of war committed by Germany on land : 

I. — Violation of the Neutrality of Luxemburg 

and Belgium. 
II. — Violation of the French Frontier before De- 
claration of War. 
III. — Killing of Prisoners and Wounded. 
IV. — Looting, Arson, Rape, and Murder. 
V. — Violations of the Geneva Convention. 
VI. — Use of Forbidden Bullets. 
VII. — Use of Burning Liquids and Asphyxiating 

Gas. 
VIII. — Bombardment of Fortresses without Notice, 
and of Unfortified Towns; Destruction of 
Buildings Consecrated to Religion, Art, 
Science, and Charity. 
IX. — Treacherous Methods of Warfare. 
X. — Cruelties Inflicted on the Civil Population. 
Except in certain exceptional cases, the facts of which 



xxvi Preface 

this work affords proof are not to be classed as the crimes 
committed by individuals, of which a certain number 
occur even in the noblest of armies ; they are collective 
crimes, tolerated in some cases and in others committed 
under orders, crimes which, in view of their frequency 
and seriousness, can be explained only as representing 
the predetermined and systematic intentions of the 
highest military authorities. 

Setting aside the States actually belligerent, thirty- 
three 'States at present neutral were represented at The 
Hague in 1907; all these were witnesses to the under- 
takings given by Germany, and to them Germany's word 
was plighted : the violation of that pact affects them, 
therefore, all alike. 



CONTENTS 

CHAPTER I 

VIOLATION OF THE NEUTRALITY OP LUXEMBURG 
AND BELGIUM 

PAGE 

No. I. Despatch from M. Eyschen, Minister of State at Luxem- 
burg, to M. Rene Viviani, President of the Council. and 
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Paris. August 2, 19 14. 2 

'No. 2. Telegram addressed by M. Davignon, Belgian Minister of 
Foreign Affairs, to the Belgian Ministers in London and 
Paris. August 4., 19 14 3 

No. 3. Despatch from the Minister for Belgium at Berlin to M. 
Davignon, Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs. A ugust 4, 
1914 4 

No. 4. Despatch from His Majesty's Ambassador at Berlin respect- 
ing the rupture of diplomatic relations with the German 
Government. August 8, 1914 5 

CHAPTER II 

VIOLATION OF THE FRENCH FRONTIER BEFORE 
DECLARATION OF WAR 

No. 5. Orders or instructions issued to the French troops, to 
prevent any violation of the frontier of Germany or that 
of neutral countries. August 17, 1914 13 

No. 6. Despatch from the Chief Inspector of Customs at Belfort 
to the Director-General of Customs at Paris. August 23, 
1914 20 

CHAPTER III 
THE KILLING OF PRISONERS AND WOUNDED 

No. 7. Police Report concerning the murder of nine wounded 

men at Benviler (Meurthe and Moselle) 27 

No. 8. Police Report relating to the massacre of thirty French 
prisoners at "Les Tiges, " Saint-Die (Vosges). October 
15. I9H 30 



xxviii Contents 

PAGE 

No. 9. Official Report of a statement made by Felix Herbet, a 
soldier of the 1st class of the 106th Regiment, wounded in 
action and undergoing treatment at the auxiliary hos- 
pital, No. 201, at Marseilles, referring to the killing of four 
wounded men at Lavoux-Marie (Meuse) 32 

No. 10. Report by Colonel Chiche, commanding the 134th Re- 
serve Brigade, concerning the massacre of over fifty French 
prisoners near the trench at Calonne. September 2$, 1914 35 

No. 11. Report by Captain Eydoux, commanding the 1st Bat- 
talion of the 67th Regiment of Infantry, concerning the 
same crime 37 

No. 12. Statement by Sub-Lieutenant Bosveuil, of the 61st 
Regiment of Infantry, with reference to the killing of a 
Frenchman wounded at Avocourt (Meuse). February 12, 

1915 38 

No. 13. Official Report of a statement made by Private Charton, 
in extremis, having reference to the massacre of fifty or 
sixty French prisoners in the vicinity of Mouilly (Meuse). 
October 2, 19 14 40 

No. 14. Report by Captain Louvard, of the Staff of the 3d Group 
of Reserve Divisions, to General P. Durand, commanding 
the 3d Group, having reference to the killing of the 
wounded left on the field at Chauvoncourt-Courouvre 
(Meuse). September 2(), 1914 41 

No. 15. Official Report of the dying statement of Private Gode- 

froy of the 39th Regiment. September 19, 191 5 43 

No. 16. Statement of Private Lafleur, of the 21st Regiment of 
Colonial Infantry, who, after being disarmed, was shot in 
the face by a Bavarian officer 44 

No. 17. Report by Sergeant Maginot of the 6th Company of 
the 44th Territorial Regiment to the Lieut.-Col. in command 
of the said Regiment, on the finding of the mutilated body 
of a French soldier at Ornes (Meuse). October 24, 19 14 46 

No. 18. Order of the day by General Stenger, ordering the kill- 
ing of prisoners, whether wounded or not 48 

No. 19. Autograph statements by two privates of the 38th 
Regiment of Prussian Reserve Infantry, describing how a 
number of French prisoners were shot by the orders of 
Captain Zeiche, Lieutenant Kaps, and Lieutenant Nehring 54 

No. 20. Extract from the note-book of Sergeant-Major Bruch- 
mann, of the 144th Regiment of Infantry, 16th Army 
Corps, recording the order to finish off wounded Turcos 61 

No. 21. Extract from the note-book of the Reservist Fahlenstein, 
of the 34th Fusiliers, 2d Army Corps, describing a massacre 
of wounded French soldiers, killed by order 63 

No. 22. Extract from the note-book of Heinrich Frohlich, a 
Non-commissioned Officer of the 117th Regiment of In- 
fantry, 3d Hessians, 18th Army Corps, recording the order 
to give no quarter 65 

No. 23. Extract from the note-book of Gottsche, a Non-commis- 
sioned Officer of the 85th Regiment of Infantry, 9th Army 
Corps, recording the order to make no English prisoners 67 



Contents xxix 

PAGE 

No. 24. Extract from the diary of a private of the Reserve, Joh. 

Nusser, belonging to the 3d Bavarian Regiment, Reserve 69 

No. 25. Fragment of a letter found on September 20, 1914, at 
l'Ecouvillon, in a German trench, recording the massacre 
of prisoners 72 

No. 26. Extract from the diary of Lieut. Lindau, of the 13th 
(Hohenzollern) Regiment of Artillery, recording the mas- 
sacre of French prisoners by the order of a Bavarian colonel 74 



CHAPTER IV 
LOOTING, ARSON, RAPE, MURDER 

No. 27. Memorandum addressed by the French Government to 

the Powers on August 19, 19 14 77 

No. 28. Deposition of Madame Dupuis, bookkeeper at Rouves 

(Meurthe-et-Moselle) on the murder of her husband. 

August 24, 19 14 79 

No. 29. Extracts from an official Police Report of the burning 

of the village of Diarupt ( Vosges) 8 1 

No. 30. Extracts from an enquiry into the burning and looting of 

Raon-l'Etape (Vosges) 90 

No. 31. Police Report concerning a murder and two outrages 

committed near La Ferte-Gaucher (Seine-et-Marne). 

September 23, 1914 93 

No. 32. Police Report concerning the murder of a young girl 

of Esternay (Marne) by a German soldier. February 27, 

1915 97 

No. 33. Placard posted on the walls of Luneville by order of 

the German authorities 100 

No. 34. Placard posted on the walls of Reims by order of the 

German authorities 102 

No. 35. Autograph Statement of a Westphalian prisoner con- 
cerning the murder of two women and a child shot at 
Metten (Belgium) by order of Major Kastendick and' the 
Reservist Captain Diiltingen, both of the 57th Regiment 
of Prussian Infantry 105 

No. 36. Extract from the note-book of Private Albers, of the 78th 
Regiment of Infantry (Reserve), 10th Reserve Corps, 
describing looting 109 

No. 37. Extract from the note-book of an anonymous soldier of 
the 11th Battalion of Light Infantry, nth Army Corps, 
concerning massacres at Leffe and Dinant in 

No. 38. Extract from the note-book of an anonymous soldier of 
the 19th Division, Saxon Ersatz, concerning the murder of 
a Catholic priest 114 

No. 39. Extract from the note-book of an anonymous soldier of 
the 50th Regiment of Infantry, 5th Army Corps, concern- 
ing the burning and sacking of Ethe (Belgium) 1 16 



xxx Contents 

PAGE 

No. 40. Extract from the note-book of an anonymous hospital 

orderly, concerning an act of cruelty to prisoners 118 

No. 41. Extract from the note-book of a soldier of the 32d In- 
fantry Regiment, 4th Reserve Corps, describing the first 
two advances of his regiment in Belgium 118 

No. 42. Extracts from the note-book of another soldier of the 
33d Infantry, 4th Reserve Corps, concerning murders 
and looting at Tongres, Creil, etc. 122 

No. 43. Extract from the note-book of Baum, a soldier of the 
i82d Regiment of Infantry, concerning looting at Novion, 
Rethel, etc. 124 

No. 44. Extract from the note-book of Heinrich Bissinger, a 
soldier in the 1st Regiment of Bavarian Pioneers, 1st 
Battalion, 2d Company, concerning crimes of the German 
troops at Orchies and Valenciennes 126 

No. 45. Extract from the note-book of Horst Braener, a soldier 
of the 134th Regiment of Infantry, 10th Saxons, 19th 
Army Corps, concerning the looting and burning of several 
villages round Namur 128 

No. 46. Extract from a letter written by Erwin Brasch, of the 
1st Regiment of Light Horse, a prisoner, concerning the 
crimes he witnessed 130 

No. 47. Extracts from the note-book of Non-commissioned Officer 
Burkhardt, of the 1st Company of the 100th Regiment 
Grenadiers, Reserve 133 

No. 48. Extracts from the note-book of Private Buttner, of the 

100th Grenadiers, 12th Army Corps 135 

No. 49. Extract from the note-book of Erich Dressier, of the 
3d Company of the 100th Regiment of Grenadiers (1st 
Saxon Corps) 137 

No. 50. Extract from the note-book of Private Fritz Ehrhardt, 
of the 170th Regiment of Infantry, concerning the burning 
of Sainte-Barbe (Vosges) 139 

No. 51. Extract from the note-book of Lieutenant Elster, of the 
77th Regiment of Infantry, Reserve, concerning the burn- 
ing of Ottignie (Belgium), in which he stigmatizes certain 
German corps 141 

No. 52. Extract from the note-book of Non-commissioned Officer 
Fritz Gehrmann, of the 88th Regiment of Infantry, 18th 
Army Corps 143 

No. 53. Extract from the note-book of Private Richard Gerhold, 
of the 74th Regiment of Infantry (Reserve), 4th Reserve 
Corps, describing the ill-treatment of the Belgian popula- 
tion 148 

No. 54. Extract from a note-book probably written (according to 
Private Paul Glode, 76th Infantry Regiment, a prisoner at 
Casablanca, Morocco) by Lance-Corporal Dannehl, 9th 
Battalion of Engineers, 9th Army Corps, describing the acts 
of the German troops in Belgium 15c 



Contents xxxi 



No. 55. Extract from the diary of Non-commissioned Officer 
Erich Harlach, of the 38th Regiment of Fusiliers (Silesians), 
6th Army Corps, describing and condemning the excesses 
committed by the Prussian troops 153 

No. 56. Extract from the note-book of Private H,assemer, of the 
8th Army Corps, describing a massacre of French soldiers 
and civilians at Sommepy (Marne) 159 

No. 57. Extract from the note-book of Ensign Baron von 
Hodenberg, of the 100th Regiment of Grenadiers, 12th 
Army Corps, condemning the conduct of the German 
troops 161 

No. 58. Extract from the note-book of Private Hohl (9th Army 
Corps?) describing the burning of a Belgian village and 
the murder of thirty-five civilians 1 63 

No. 59. Extract from the note-book of Lieutenant von Jon- 
quieres, of the 3d Regiment of Grenadier Guards, describ- 
ing the burning of the village of Fosse (Belgium) and the 
distribution of the money looted there to the soldiers 166 

No. 60. Extract from the note- book of Adjutant G. J. Kohler, 
of the 13th Battalion of Light Horse (Reserve), 12th Corps, 
recording arson and murder in Belgium 1 68 

No. 61. Extract from the note-book of Non-commissioned Officer 
Reinhold Koehn, of the 2d Battalion of Engineers, 3d 
Army Corps, recording the sack of Vise (Belgium) 1 70 

No. 62. Extract from the note-book of Private Fritz Krain, of 
the 4th Battalion of Light Horse (Reserve), 4th Reserve 
Corps, concerning the murder of a young girl 172 

No. 63. Extract from the note-book of Private Langerhaus, of 
the 77th Regiment of Infantry, loth Army Corps, recording 
the murder of Belgian civilians 1 74 

No. 64. Extract from the note-book of Non-commissioned Officer 
Levith (or Levick), of the 3d Company of the 160th Regi- 
ment of Infantry, 8th Army Corps, recording the looting 
and burning of Bievre 1 76 

No. 65. Extract from the note-book of Private Menge, of the 
74th Regiment of Infantry (Reserve), 10th Reserve Corps, 
recording the hanging of a Belgian priest and his sister 1 78 

No. 66. Extract from the note-book of the stretcher-bearer 
Joseph Ott, 33d Division, 16th Army Corps, describing 
the looting of a village by permission of officers 180 

No. 67. Extract from the note-book of Max Peich, 17th Regi- 
ment of Infantry, 14th Army Corps, recording the murder 
of three men and a boy at Fumay (Ardennes) 181 

No. 68. Extract from the note-book of Private Philipp, of the 
178th Regiment of Infantry, 12th Army Corps, describing 
the massacre of the civil population in a village near Dinant 1 83 

No. 69. Extract from the note-book of the volunteer recruit, 
Quell, of the 107th Regiment of Infantry, 19th Army Corps, 
recording the plundering of the Station-master's house at 
Launois (Ardennes) 1 86 



xxxii Contents 



No. 7o ; Extract from the note-book of Lieutenant Reisland, of 
the 117th Regiment of Infantry, 12th Army Corps, describ- 
ing the burning of several villages in Belgium 188 

No. 71. Extract from the note-book of Private Rudolf Ross- 
berg, of the 101st Grenadier Regiment, 2d Saxons, 12th 
Army Corps, describing the looting at Dinant and Laval- 
Morency 190 

No. 72. Extract from the note-book of Private Karl Scheufele, of 
the 3d Bavarian Regiment of Landwehr Infantry, describ- 
ing the burning of Saint-Maurice (Meurthe-et-Moselle) 
and its inhabitants 192 

No. 73. Extract from the note-book of Private Adolf Schlutter, of 
the 39th Regiment of Fusiliers, 7th Reserve Corps, record- 
ing murders and arson at Pepinster (Belgium) 194 

No. 74. Extract from the note-book of Non-commissioned 

Officer Schulz, of the 46th Regiment of Infantry 196 

No. 75. Extract from the note-book of Lance-Corporal Paul 
Spielmann, of the Ersatz, 1st Brigade of Infantry of the 
Guard, recording the massacre of the inhabitants of a 
village near Blamont 198 

No. 76. Extract from the note-book of Private Max Thomas, of 
the 107th Regiment of Infantry (8th Saxons), 19th Army 
Corps, describing the crimes committed by the German 
troops at Spontin (Belgium) 201 

No. JJ. Extract from the diary of Fr. Treinen, a volunteer en- 
listed in the 237th Regiment of Infantry (Reserve), describ- 
ing the murder of a young man near Roulers (Belgium) 203 

No. 78. Extract from the note-book of Private Weishaupt, of 
the 3d Bavarian Regiment of Infantry, 1st Bavarian 
Corps, recording the burning of Parux (Meurthe-et-Moselle) 
and other villages of Lorraine 205 

No. 79. Extract from the note-book of Private Willmer, of the 
40th Brigade, Ersatz Battalion 10th Division, Ersatz 
Corps, recording the plundering at Champenoux, at Brin 
(Meurthe-et-Moselle), and at Loupmont (Meuse) 207 

No. 80. Extract from the note-book of Private Hans Wix, of 
the 78th Regiment of Infantry (Reserve), 10th Reserve 
Corps, condemning the conduct of the German troops 209 

No. 81. Deposition of M. Charles-Ferdinand Barbe. Police re- 
port dated August 24,1914 211 

No. 82. Deposition of M. Georges Munier. August 27, 1914 218 

No. 83. Deposition of Lieutenant Wilhelm Peters, of the 8th 
Bavarian Regiment of Infantry, 33d Reserve Division. 
March 25, 1915 219 

No. 84. Extract from the note-book of Private Fischer, 8th 

Bavarian Regiment of Infantry, 33d Reserve Division 224 



Contents xxxiii 

CHAPTER V 
VIOLATIONS OF THE GENEVA CONVENTION 

PAGE 

No. 85. Report by Assistant-Surgeon Mozer, of the Reserve, 
161st Regiment of Infantry, addressed to Surgeon-Major 
Cadiot, of the same regiment, describing the circumstances 
under which he was wounded by a German officer. Novem- 
ber 26, 1914 227 

No. 86. Report forwarded by Police Lieutenant Tuaillon, in 
command of the district of Pontarlier, having reference to 
the cruelties inflicted at Recquignies on ten French hospi- 
tal orderlies 233 

No. 87. Report forwarded by 2d Class Surgeon-Major Rigaux, 
in charge of the Medical Staff of the Composite Regiment 
(5th Army, 1st Army Corps), having reference to the bom- 
bardment of a regimental first-aid post, stationed at the 
farm of La P£cherie. December 9, 1914 . 234 

No. 88. Statement by Sub-Lieutenant Desforges, of the 151st 
Regiment of Infantry, describing the cruel treatment 
inflicted on wounded men under the Red Cross flag 237 

No. 89. Despatch from the Minister of War to the Minister for 

Foreign Affairs. January 15, 1915 239 



CHAPTER VI 
USE OF FORBIDDEN BULLETS 

No. 90. Despatch from the Minister of War to the Minister of 
Foreign Affairs concerning the use of explosive bullets by 
the German troops. September 20, 1914 ■ 254 

No. 91. Report by Lieutenant-Colonel Leleu, Director of the 
Technical Branch of the Artillery, on the cartridges sub- 
mitted to him for examination on August 20. August 20, 
1914 261 

No. 92. Report by Lieutenant-Colonel Leleu, Director of the 
Technical Branch of the Artillery, on a cartridge sub- 
mitted to him for examination by order of the Ministry of 
War on September 5, 1914. September 7, 1914 263 

No. 93. Note addressed by the General Commanding the 5th 
Army to the Commander-in-Chief on the subject of the 
dum-dum bullets used by the German Army. September 8, 
1914 266 

No. 94. Report by the Director of the Technical Branch of the 
Artillery concerning five cartridges made for the "Para- 
bellum" pistol 267 

No. 95. Despatch from the Minister of War to the Minister for 

Foreign Affairs. October 10, 1914 270 



xxxiv Contents 



No. 96. Report by Lieutenant- Colonel Leleu, Director of the 
Technical Branch of the Artillery, with reference to a cart- 
ridge found on a soldier of the 2d Regiment of the Prussian 
Infantry of the Guard. October 24., igiq. 272 

No. 97. Communication made by Dr. Tuffier to the Academy of 
Medicine (vide Report of the Proceedings of the Academy 
of Medicine; meeting of November 24, 1914) having refer- 
ence to the nature of certain serious wounds produced by 
the use of ' ' reversed ' '^bullets 275 

No. 98. Order of the day by General von Liittwitz, concerning 

explosive bullets. September 15, 1914 278 

No. 99. Extract from a note-book apparently belonging to Ser- 

geant-Major Kohler, of the 7th Reserve Regiment 281 



CHAPTER VII 
USE OF BURNING LIQUIDS AND ASPHYXIATING GASES 

No. 100. Memorandum by the French Government concerning 
the use of burning liquids by the German troops. April 
29, 1915 288 

No. 10 1. From the Minister of War to the Minister of Foreign 

Affairs. May 6,1915 290 

No. 102. Report of Superintendent Sieur, Head of the Medical 
Department of the Detachment of the Belgian Army, to 
the Inspector-General and Director-General of the Medical 
Department, concerning the cases of poisoning treated after 
the attack at Langhemarck, April 23, 1915. April 25, 1915 293 

No. 103. Clinical, anatomo-pathological and histo-chemical 
study of cases of poisoning by the irritating gases used by 
the Germans at Langhemarck, by Doctors R. Dujarric de 
la Riviere, of the Pasteur Institute, and J. Leclercq, 
Licentiate of the Faculty of Medicine of Lille 297 



" CHAPTER VIII 

BOMBARDMENT OF FORTRESSES WITHOUT NOTICE, 
AND OF OPEN TOWNS; DESTRUCTION OF BUILD- 
INGS DEDICATED TO PUBLIC WORSHIP, ART, 
SCIENCE, OR CHARITABLE PURPOSES 

No. 104. Memorandum addressed to the Powers by the French 

Government on August 16, 1914 302 

No. 105. Memorandum by the Vicar-General Landrieux and 
M. R. Thinot, Chapel-master of Reims Cathedral, con- 
cerning the burning and bombardment of the cathedral, 
September 17-19, 1914 304 



Contents xxxv 

PAGE 

No. 1 06. Note by General Rouquerol on the position of the 
batteries at Reims in relation to the cathedral. November 
9,I9H 3il 

No. 107. List of the men, women, and children, killed or in- 
jured by the explosion of bombs thrown upon Paris and the 
suburbs by German aircraft from August 30 to October 
12, 19 1 4. (The List is taken from the report drawn up 
by M. Lescouve, Public Prosecutor) 312 

CHAPTER IX 
TREACHEROUS METHODS OF WARFARE 

No. 108. Statement by Private Cabioch, of the 321st Regiment 
of Infantry (Reserve), describing the circumstances under 
which certain prisoners were placed in front of the German 
troops 315 

No. 109. Deposition of four soldiers of the 216th Regiment of 
Infantry (Reserve), describing how on September 20 
French prisoners were exposed to the fire of the French 
troops 317 

No. no. Extracts from report by Lieutenant-Colonel Payerne, 
commanding the 68th Regiment of Infantry, to the General 
in command of the 9th Army Corps on occurrences which 
took place on the front of the 68th Regiment, September 
25-26,1914. October 5, 19 14 318 

No. in. Report forwarded by Lieutenant Aucour to the Colonel 
commanding the 2d Regiment of Dragoons, describing 
the circumstances in which a detachment of German 
infantry used two women as a screen on October 19, 1914, 
in Belgium. October 19, 1914 322 

No. 112. Report of Major Hennoegen to the Major commanding 
the 354th Infantry Regiment, describing the manner in 
which certain German soldiers used women and children 
as a screen on September 23, 1914 324 

No. 113. Letter written by Lieutenant A. Eberlein, a Bavarian 
officer, and published on October 7, 1914, in the "Vor- 
abendblatt" of the "Miinchener neueste Nachrichten" 325 

CHAPTER X 
CRUELTIES INFLICTED ON THE CIVIL POPULATION 

No. 114. Report of Lieutenant Hurel upon cruelties committed 

by the Germans at the attack on Pont-a-Celles 328 

No. 115. Report by Col. Huguet, head of the French Military 
Mission attached to the British Expeditionary Force, to 
the General Commander-in-Chief of the French Army at 
Chatillon-sur-Seinc concerning the murder of three civilians 
at Hartennes (Aisne). September 23, 1914 329 



xxxvi Contents 



No. 1 1 6. Deposition of the military hospital orderly, Martin 
concerning the ill-treatment of a convoy of civilian 
prisoners 330 

No. 117. Report of the ill-treatment of certain old men of Champ- 
guyon (Marne) who were taken to Germany as prisoners. 
April 2,1915 336 

No. 118. Extract from a report by Brigadier Faucheur, com- 
manding the Brigade at Fresncs, having reference to 
the proceedings of the German troops at Fresnes 338 

No. 119. Evidence as to crimes committed by the Germans at 

Sainte-Barbe (Vosges) 339 

No. 120. Report of General Esperey, commanding the 5th 
Army, on breaches of international law committed by the 
Germans at Chivy (Aisne). November 3, 1914 340 

No. 121. Deposition of Private Guilluy describing the severities 
which he witnessed or endured at Lievin, and afterwards on 
board the A miral Gantheaume 343 



GERMANY'S VIOLATIONS 
OF THE LAWS OF WAR 

1914-15 



CHAPTER I 

VIOLATION OF THE NEUTRALITY OF 
LUXEMBURG AND BELGIUM 

THE UNDERTAKINGS GIVEN BY GERMANY 

THE Grand-Duchy of Luxemburg shall constitute here- 
after a perpetually neutral State, within the limits laid 
down in the treaty of the igth April, 1839, under the 
guarantee of the Courts of Austria, France, Great Britain, 
Prussia, and Russia. It will be required to observe this 
same neutrality towards all other States. The High 
Contracting Parties undertake to respect the principle 
of neutrality laid down in the present Article. This 
principle is and remains under the sanction of the col- 
lective guarantee of the Powers, with the exception of 
Belgium, herself a neutral State. 

(Treaty of London, May n, 1867, Article 2.) 

Belgium shall be an independent and perpetually 
neutral State; she will be required to observe this same neu- 
trality towards all other States. 

The Courts of Austria, France, Great Britain, Prussia, 



2 Germany's Violations 

and Russia guarantee to His Majesty the King of the 
Belgians the observance of all the preceding Articles. 

(Treaty of London, November 15, 1831, 
Articles 7 and 25.) 

The territory of neutral Powers is inviolable. 

It is forbidden to belligerents to send across the territory 
of a neutral Power either troops or convoys, whether of 
ammunition or food-supplies. 

(Convention V. of The Hague, Articles 1 and 2.) 

THE DEEDS OF GERMANY 

i. In Regard to Luxemburg 

No. 1 

DESPATCH from M. Eyschen, Minister of 
State at Luxemburg, to M. Rene Viviani, Presi- 
dent of the Council and Minister of Foreign 
Affairs, Paris. 

Luxemburg, August 2, 1914. 
I have the honour to bring to the knowledge of Your 
Excellency the following facts: 

Early in the morning of the 2d of August, according 
to the information which has just reached my Govern- 
ment, German troops entered the territory of Luxem- 
burg by way of the bridges at Wasserbillig and Remich, 
and proceeded generally in a southerly direction to- 
wards the City of Luxemburg, the capital of the Grand- 



Of the Laws of War 3 

Duchy. A certain number of armoured trains with 
troops and ammunition have started upon the railway 
from Wasserbillig to Luxemburg and their arrival is 
momentarily expected. 

These facts point to the commission of acts which 
are clearly in violation of the neutrality of the Grand- 
Duchy, guaranteed by the Treaty of London of 1867. 
My Government has not failed to protest energetically 
to the representatives of His Majesty the German 
Emperor at Luxemburg; a similar protest is about to 
be despatched by telegram to the Secretary of State 
for Foreign Affairs at Berlin. 

{Signed) Eyschen. 1 

Minister of State and President of the Government. 

2. In Regard to Belgium 

No. 2 

TELEGRAM addressed by M. Davignon, Belgian 
Minister of Foreign Affairs, to the Belgian Minis- 
ters in London and Paris. 

Brussels, A ugust 4, 1914. 
The Headquarters Staff communicate information to 
the effect that the national territory has been violated 
at Gemmenich. 

{Signed) Davignon. 2 

1 Extract from the French Yellow Book, Document No. 131. 

2 Extract from the Belgian Grey Book, Document No. 30. 



4 Germany's Violations 

No. 3 

DESPA TCH from the Minister for Belgium at 
Berlin to M. Davignon, Belgian Minister for 
Foreign Affairs. 

Berlin, August 4, 1914. 
Herein below I have the honour to forward to you a 
translation of a part of the speech delivered yesterday 
in the Reichstag by the Chancellor of the Empire, hav- 
ing reference to the flagrant violation of our neutrality. 

"The situation in which we find ourselves justifies 
us in taking all measures for our defence, and necessity 
knows no law. 

"Our forces have occupied Luxemburg and have 
perhaps already advanced into Belgium. This consti- 
tutes a breach of international law. It is true that 
France had declared at Brussels that she was deter- 
mined to respect the neutrality of Belgium so long 
as it should be respected by the adversary. But we 
were well aware that France was making ready to 
invade Belgium. France could afford to wait; we could 
not. An attack by France on our flank in the region 
of the lower Rhine might have had fatal consequences. 
For this reason we have been compelled to pay no heed 
to the justifiable protests of the Governments of Luxem- 
burg and Belgium. So soon as our object has been 
attained, we will make atonement for the wrong 
which we are now committing. 



Of the Laws of War 5 

"For those who are threatened as we are and who 
are struggling for their dearest possession, there can be 
no thought for anything except to hack their way 
through; we stand side by side with Austria." 

It will be observed that M. von Bethmann-Hollweg 
admits unreservedly that Germany is violating Inter- 
national Law and that she is acting wrongfully towards 

us. 

(Signed) Baron Beyens. 1 

No. 4 

DESPATCH from His Majesty's Ambassador 
at Berlin respecting the rupture of diplomatic 
relations with the German Government. 

Sir E. Goschen to Sir Edward Grey 

London, August 8, 1914. 
Sir, — In accordance with the instructions contained 
in your telegram of the 4th instant 2 I called upon the 
Secretary of State that afternoon and inquired, in the 
name of His Majesty's Government, whether the 
Imperial Government would refrain from violating 
Belgian neutrality. Herr von Jagow at once replied 
that he was sorry to say that his answer must be "No," 
as, in consequence of the German troops having crossed 
the frontier that morning, Belgian neutrality had been 
already violated. Herr von Jagow again went into the 

1 Extract from the Belgian Grey Book, Document No. 35. 

2 See "Miscellaneous, No. 6 (1914)," No. 153. 



6 Germany's Violations 

reasons why the Imperial Government had been obliged 
to take this step, namely, that they had to advance 
into France by the quickest and easiest ways so as to 
be able to get we'll ahead with their operations and 
endeavour to strike some decisive blow as early as 
possible. It was a matter of life and death for them, 
as if they had gone by the more southern route they 
could not have hoped, in view of the paucity of roads 
and the strength of the fortresses, to have got through 
without formidable opposition entailing great loss of 
time. This loss of time would have meant time gained 
by the Russians for bringing up their troops to the 
German frontier. Rapidity of action was the great 
German asset, while that of Russia was an inexhaustible 
supply of troops. I pointed out to Herr von Jagow 
that this fait accompli of the violation of the Belgian 
frontier rendered, as he would readily understand, the 
situation exceedingly grave, and I asked him whether 
there was not still time to draw back and avoid possible 
consequences, which both he and I would deplore. He 
replied that, for the reasons he had given me, it was now 
impossible for them to draw back. 

During the afternoon I received your further tele- 
gram of the same date, 1 and, in compliance with the 
instructions therein contained, I again proceeded to 
the Imperial Foreign Office and informed the Secretary 
of State that unless the Imperial Government could 

1 See "Miscellaneous, No. 6 (1914)," No. 159. 



Of the Laws of War 7 

give the assurance by twelve o'clock that night that 
they would proceed no further with their violation of 
the Belgian frontier and stop their advance, I had been 
instructed to demand my passports and inform the 
Imperial Government that His Majesty's Government 
would have to take all steps in their power to uphold 
the neutrality of Belgium and the observance of a 
treaty to which Germany was as much a party as 
themselves. 

Herr von Jagow replied that to his great regret he 
could give no other answer than that which he had 
given me earlier in the day, namely, that the safety of 
the Empire rendered it absolutely necessary that the 
Imperial troops should advance through Belgium. I 
gave His Excellency a written summary of your tele- 
gram and, pointing out that you had mentioned twelve 
o'clock as the time when His Majesty's Government 
would expect an answer, asked him whether, in view of 
the terrible consequences which would necessarily 
ensue, it were not possible even at the last moment 
that their answer should be reconsidered. He replied 
that if the time given were even twenty-four hours or 
more, his answer must be the same. I said that in that 
case I should have to demand my passports. This 
interview took place at about seven o'clock. In a short 
conversation which ensued Herr von Jagow expressed 
his poignant regret at the crumbling of his entire policy 
and that of the Chancellor, which had been to make 



8 Germany's Violations 

friends with Great Britain and then, through Great 
Britain, to get closer to France. I said that this sud- 
den end to my work in Berlin was to me also a matter 
of deep regret and disappointment, but that he must 
understand that under the circumstances and in view 
of our engagements, His Majesty's Government could 
not possibly have acted otherwise than they had done. 
I then said that I should like to go and see the Chan- 
cellor, as it might be, perhaps, the last time I should 
have an opportunity of seeing him. He begged me to 
do so. I found the Chancellor very agitated. His 
Excellency at once began a harangue, which lasted for 
about twenty minutes. He said that the step taken 
by His Majesty's Government was terrible to a degree; 
just for a word — "neutrality," a word which in war 
time had so often been disregarded — just for a scrap of 
paper, Great Britain was going to make war on a 
kindred nation who desired nothing better than to be 
friends with her. All his efforts in that direction had 
been rendered useless by this last terrible step, and the 
policy to which, as I knew, he had devoted himself 
since his accession to office had tumbled down like a 
house of cards. What we had done was unthinkable; 
it was like striking a man from behind while he was 
fighting for his life against two assailants. He held 
Great Britain responsible for all the terrible events that 
might happen. I protested strongly against that 
statement, and said that, in the same way as he and 



Of the Laws of War 9 

Herr von Jagow wished me to understand that for 
strategical reasons it was a matter of life and death to 
Germany to advance through Belgium and violate 
the latter' s neutrality, so I would wish him to under- 
stand that it was, so to speak, a matter of "life and 
death" for the honour of Great Britain that she should 
keep her solemn engagement to do her utmost to defend 
Belgium's neutrality if attacked. That solemn com- 
pact simply had to be kept, or what confidence could 
any one have in engagements given by Great Britain 
in the future? The Chancellor said, "But at what 
price will that compact have been kept? Has the 
British Government thought of that?" I hinted to 
His Excellency as plainly as I could that fear of conse- 
quences could hardly be regarded as an excuse for 
breaking solemn engagements, but His Excellency 
was so excited, so evidently overcome by the news of 
our action, and so little disposed to hear reason that I 
refrained from adding fuel to the flame by further ar- 
gument. As I was leaving he said that the blow of 
Great Britain joining Germany's enemies was all the 
greater that almost up to the last moment he and his 
Government had been working with us and supporting 
our efforts to maintain peace between Austria and 
Russia. I said that this was part of the tragedy which 
saw the two nations fall apart just at the moment 
when the relations between them had been more friendly 
and cordial than they had been for years. Unfortu- 



io Germany's Violations 

nately, notwithstanding our efforts to maintain peace 
between Russia and Austria, the war had spread and 
had brought us face to face with a situation which, if 
we held to our engagements, we could not possibly avoid, 
and which unfortunately entailed our separation from 
our late fellow- workers. He would readily understand 
that no one regretted this more than I. 

After this somewhat painful interview I returned to 
the embassy and drew up a telegraphic report of what 
had passed. This telegram was handed in at the Cen- 
tral Telegraph Office a little before 9 p.m. It was ac- 
cepted by that office, but apparently never despatched. * 

At about 9.30 p.m. Herr von Zimmermann, the Under- 
Secretary of State, came to see me. After expressing his 
deep regret that the very friendly official and personal 
relations between us were about to cease, he asked me 
casually whether a demand for passports was equivalent 
to a declaration of war. I said that such an authority 
on international law as he was known to be must know 
as well or better than I what was usual in such cases. 
I added that there were many cases where diplomatic 
relations had been broken off and, nevertheless, war 
had not ensued; but that in this case he would have 
seen from my instructions, of which I had given Herr 
von Jagow a written summary, that His Majesty's 
Government expected an answer to a definite question 
by twelve o'clock that night, and that in default of a 

1 This telegram never reached the Foreign Office. 



Of the Laws of War 1 1 

satisfactory answer they would be forced to take such 
steps as their engagements required. Herr Zimmer- 
mann said that that was, in fact, a declaration of war, 
as the Imperial Government could not possibly give 
the assurance required either that night or any other 
night. 

{Signed) E. Goschen. 1 

1 Extract from the English Blue Book, Document No. 160. 



CHAPTER II 

VIOLATION OF THE FRENCH 

FRONTIER BEFORE DECLARATION 

OF WAR 

THE UNDERTAKING GIVEN BY GERMANY 

THE contracting Powers agree that hostilities between 
them must not commence without clear preliminary notice 
which must take the form either of a declaration of war 
upon grounds assigned, or that of an ultimatum with a 
conditional declaration of war. 

(Convention III of The Hague, Article I.) 

THE DEEDS OF GERMANY 

The Imperial German Government declared war 
against France on Monday, August 3, at 6.45 p.m. 
The following documents establish the fact that, on the 
one hand, up to that day and that hour, the French 
forces were held back within French territory, and that, 
on the other hand, commencing from the morning of 
August 2, German troops crossed the frontier at several 
points and committed on French territory divers acts 
of murder and pillage. 



Violations of the Laws of War 13 

No. 5 

ORDERS or instructions issued to the French 
troops, to prevent any violation of the frontier of 
Germany or that of neutral countries. 

Grand Headquarters of the Armies of the East. 

August 17, 1914. 

After the placing in their respective positions of our 
covering troops, a formal order was issued to the officers 
in command of sections not to allow any of their men, 
upon any pretext whatsoever, to go beyond a line, 
drawn generally at a distance of 10 kilometres from the 
frontier. This line is precisely laid down for each sec- 
tion in the telegram number 129-3/ 11 T. of the 30th 
July. (Archives of the 3d Bureau of the Staff; special 
register of measures adopted in case of political 
tension.) 

The order not to go beyond this line was not coun- 
termanded until general secret instructions were issued 
to the covering troops (operation No. 1) on the 26. of 
August, after several violations of the frontier had been 
committed by the Germans. But, by the same instruc- 
tions, the officers commanding sections were directed 
to leave to the Germans all responsibility for hostilities 
by confining themselves to driving back over the fron- 
tier all attacking forces without themselves entering 
upon the enemy's territory. In order that these in- 
structions might be brought more rapidly to the know- 



14 Germany's Violations 

ledge of the various commanders, they were specially 
communicated to them, in identical terms, by telephone 
message No. 17 on the 2d of August at 5.30 p. M. 
On the 3d of August at 10.30 a.m., the Commander- 
in-Chief again laid stress on the absolute necessity of 
not crossing the frontier. 

At 8.45 a.m. on the 4th of August, by telegram No. 
41, the Minister of War notified the generals in com- 
mand of the several frontier army corps that war was 
declared, but he strictly forbade any advance of troops 
into the territory of Belgium or Switzerland and all 
flights of aeroplanes over these territories. 

After the formal and repeated orders issued to them 
to limit their operations, first to a line definitely fixed 
and then to the German frontier, several officers in 
command of sections considered it their duty, even after 
the declaration of war, to ask whether they were author- 
ized to cross the frontier. On the 5th of August at 
12.40 p.m., the Commander-in-Chief replied (A-Tessage 
No. 6) that no further reasons existed to prevent the 
troops of the various sections from carrying out without 
restrictions the duty that lay before them. On the 
5th of August the Commander-in-Chief authorized 
the advance of troops into Belgian territory and sanc- 
tioned the flying of aeroplanes over the same. This 
authority was given by an order issued at 7.20 a.m. 
on the 5th of August, 191 4. The strict prohibition as 
regards flying over Swiss territory has been maintained 



Of the Laws of War 15 

and renewed on several occasions, more especially by 
a telegram of the nth of August, of which a copy is 
filed at the Ministry of War (Letter of the 16th August 
576, C/10). 

Copies of the following documents are given below: 

(1) General secret instructions for the covering 
troops, 2d of August, 19 14. 

(2) Order of the Commander-in-Chief to the officers 
commanding covering sections, 2d August, 1914. 

(3) Telephone message addressed to the officers 
commanding covering sections, 3d of August, 1914. 

(4) Telegrams addressed to the same officers on the 
4th of August. 

(5) Telephone message sent to the same officers, 
5th August, 1914. 

(6) General order issued to the* Cavalry Corps and 
to the 2d Army Corps on the 5th August, 1914. 

I. GENERAL Secret Instructions for Covering 
Troops 

Issued at Paris, August 2, 1914. 
(1) From information received it appears that the 
Germans have this morning violated the French fron- 
tier at three points, namely, between Delle and Belfort, 
opposite Cirey-sur-Vezouze, and both to the north and 
the south of Longwy. 

Under these circumstances, the order forbidding the 



16 Germany's Violations 

passage of troops eastwards beyond the line laid down 
by telegram No. 129-3/11 T, situated generally at a 
distance of 10 kilometres from the frontier, is hereby 
rescinded. Nevertheless, for national reasons of a 
moral kind and for most important reasons of diplo- 
macy, it is absolutely necessary to leave to the Germans 
all responsibility for hostilities. Therefore, until fur- 
ther orders, covering troops will confine themselves to 
driving back attacking forces beyond the frontier 
without pursuing them and without penetrating into 
the territory of the enemy. 

(2) The Commander-in-Chief intends to take up 
the general offensive only when his forces have been 
concentrated. 

(Signed) J. Joffre. 

General Commanding-in-Chief . 

2. ORDER of the Commander-in-Chief issued to 
the officers commanding covering sections. 

Paris, August 2, 1914, 5.30 p.m. 

Telephone Message. (The text of this order is simi- 
lar to that given above, omitting the last paragraph.) 

(1) From information received it appears that the 
Germans have this morning violated the French frontier 
at three points, namely, between Delle and Belfort, 
opposite Cirey-sur-Vezouze, and both to the north and 
the south of Longwy. 



Of the Laws of War 17 

Under these circumstances, the order forbidding 
the passage of troops eastwards beyond the line laid 
down by telegram No. 129-3/11 T, situated generally 
at a distance of 10 kilometres from the frontier, is 
hereby rescinded. Nevertheless, for national reasons of 
a moral kind and for most important reasons of diplo- 
macy, it is absolutely necessary to leave to the Germans 
all responsibility for hostilities. Therefore, until fur- 
ther orders, covering troops will confine themselves 
to driving back attacking forces beyond the frontier 
without pursuing them and without penetrating upon 
the territory of the enemy. 

3. MESSAGE telephoned to the officers in command 
of sections of covering troops. 

Paris, August 3, 10.30 a.m. 
The first paragraph of the General Instructions for 
covering troops, issued yesterday, the 2d of August, 
at 5.30 p.m., laid stress upon the urgent necessity of not 
crossing the frontier for reasons therein specified. If 
any incidents should occur, they must take place and 
be developed only on French territory. This order 
will be confirmed to you by an officer of the Grand 
General Staff, who will go to see you this evening by 
motor-car. 

(Signed) J. Joffre. 

The General Commander-in-Chief. 



1 8 Germany's Violations 

4. TELEGRAMS sent to the 2d, 6th, jth, 20th, and 

21 st Corps. 

August/]., 1914, 10.40 A.M. 

War is declared. 

Italy has made an official declaration of complete 
neutrality. Germany will endeavour, by the dissemina- 
tion of false news, to induce us to violate the neutrality 
of Belgium and Switzerland. It is strictly forbidden, 
in the most formal manner, until the issue of new orders 
to the contrary, that any of our troops should penetrate, 
either as patrols or single scouts, into Swiss or Belgian 
territory, or that any airman should fly over the terri- 
tories of these countries. 

(Signed) Messimy. 

5. THE GENERAL Commander-in-Chief to the 
Generals in command of the 20th, 2d, 6th, Jth, and 
21 st Corps. 

■ 

August 5, 12.20 p.m. 
War having been declared, no further restrictions are 
imposed upon the covering operations, which may now 
be executed in accordance with the plans and duties 
assigned to the troops of the different sections. 

(Special instructions to the 21st Corps.) 

You are therefore authorized to occupy the passes 



Of the Laws of War 19 

of the Vosges, and of the Col-du-Bonhomme, and the 
Gap of Saales. 

Copy taken : 

Major- General Belin. 

Telephone message, confirmed by telegram. 

J. JOFFRE. 

6. INSTRUCTIONS issued in common to the 
Cavalry Corps and to the 2d Corps. 

Paris, August 5, 7.20 and 7.45 a.m. 
(1) French aeroplanes and dirigibles are authorized to 
fly over Belgian territory. But as the Belgian troops 
were yesterday still under orders to fire upon all airships, 
and as the countermanding order may not as yet have 
reached everybody, it will be necessary for our pilots 
to fly at a considerable height. 

(2) Cavalry patrols for reconnaissance work are also 
authorized to penetrate into Belgian territory, but for 
the present they must not be supported by any large 
bodies of troops. Your object from now onwards 
should be to act upon this authority with discretion, 
so as to cut the lines of communication as near to 
the frontier of Luxemburg as possible — that is to say, 
the roads leading westwards from in front of Virton- 
Stavelot. 

(3) Express orders must be issued to the troops to 



20 Germany's Violations 

regard themselves as being in the country of a friend 
and ally; to make no requisitions until the convention, 
now under discussion, on this subject has been made 
known, and to buy nothing except by friendly agree- 
ment and for ready cash. 

J. JOFFRE. 

The General Commander-in-Chief. 

No. 6 

DESPATCH from the Chief Inspector of Customs 
at Belfort to the Director-General of Customs at 
Paris. 

Belfort, August 23, 19 14. 
I have the honour to hand you herewith enclosed the 
reports, twelve in number, called for in your communi- 
cation of the 15th inst. In order that the incidents 
therein referred to may be more clearly understood, I 
append also a rough map of the district. I need hardly 
add that these incidents were duly communicated to 
the military authorities as and when they took place. 

No further incidents of the kind have been witnessed 
by the officers under my orders since the Declaration of 
War. On the 18th August, however, two officers at 
Delle, on sentry duty at the railway bridge, fired upon 
two Swiss mounted patrols who, mistaking their way 
in the darkness, had crossed into French territory. The 
official report which deals with this incident (No. 13) 



Of the Laws of War 



21 



,Rouq*mont 



BELFO 



4-epjn Point 

1 N?2 




s u ivrs s e 



Map showing certain points where the French frontier was violated by 
the German armies before the declaration of war. 



22 Germany's Violations 

is also included. I may supplement it by stating that on 
the following day a lieutenant-colonel of the Swiss army 
called upon the captain at Delle to express his regrets. 
The general in command at Belfort and the general com- 
manding the army at Alsace were immediately informed. 

{Signed) Cappelle. 

Inspector-General of Customs. 

Enclosures 

REPORT from the Station of Vauthiermont. 

We, the undersigned — Charles Zerringer, Sergeant- 
in- Charge of the Customs Station of Vauthiermont, in 
the district of Belfort, together with Customs officers 
Goffinet, Josso, Regnauld, Poussardin, Blondeau, 
Clerc, Ferrier, Pidon, and Rey, detached for special 
duty to keep watch over the Franco-German frontier 
at Vauthiermont — hereby certify that on the 2d of 
August, 19 14, at forty-five minutes past twelve (noon), 
we saw a patrol of seven German Dragoons, mounted, 
who came from the interior and were proceeding beyond 
the frontier at a distance 250 yards south of the village 
of Vauthiermont. Upon catching sight of us they put 
their horses to the gallop. We fired upon them, about 
twenty shots in all, until they disappeared in the forest 
which lies close to the frontier. From their movements 
we have reason to believe that two of these horsemen 
were wounded. 



Of the Laws of War 23 

We have drawn up this official report of the facts. 
Signed by the above-named Customs officers at the 
station of Vauthiermont on the 18th August, 1914. 

REPORT from the Station of Reppe. 

We, the undersigned — Lieut. Parachie, commanding the 
Station of Reppe, Sergeant Bize, and Customs officers 
Baur, Muller, Guillem, and Borne — hereby certify that 
on the 2d August, 19 14, we were at a quarter-past 
twelve (noon) on watch at the village of Reppe (which 
is at the crossroads between Brechaumont and Danne- 
marie), at 300 yards' distance from the Franco-German 
frontier, when we caught sight of a patrol of nine German 
cavalry, who, coming at a trot up the road from Fousse- 
magne, were making for the point which we occupied. 
We opened fire upon them immediately at about 40 
yards. But putting spurs to their horses, they dashed 
ahead, firing upon us as they passed without hurting 
any one. Those of them who first reached the barrier 
which had been placed across the road jumped over it, 
but the last two were unable to do so, and their horses 
struck the barrier, which was broken. One of these men 
came down with his horse; Sergeant Bize, who was 
nearest to him, took him prisoner, but the horse got up 
immediately and rejoined the others, who made off 
across the frontier at full speed. The prisoner, who 
belonged to the 22d Regiment of Dragoons in garrison 



24 Germany's Violations 

at Mulhouse, was wounded in the forehead. He re- 
ceived first aid and was handed over on the same day 
to the military authorities. In proof of which we have 
drawn up the present report. 

Signed by the above-mentioned officers. 

REPORT from the Station of Petit- Croix. 

We, the undersigned Corporal Berlon, and Customs 
Officers Zerr and Romain, certify that on the 2d of 
August at 8.50 A.M., being on duty at about 100 yards' 
distance from the frontier, at the point on the railway 
known as "The Machine Dep6t, " we were attacked by 
a party of about twenty-five Germans who fired some 
fifteen shots at us; these men were upon German terri- 
tory, some of them, at 150 yards from the frontier, at the 
place called Le Breuleux, and the rest 400 yards away 
at a point of the pass overlooking Montreux-Vieux. 

Without returning the enemy's fire, we fell back upon 
our station and called the men to arms. 

We, the undersigned, Captain Dentz, in command of 
the station ; Captain Monneret ; Sergeants Lapprand and 
Contesse ; Corporal Francois ; and officers Grandmougin 
and Cuenin, hearing the alarm raised went forward at 
once followed by all the strength of the Station. At a 
point situated at 150 yards east of the pass which runs 
above Montreux-Chateau on the railway, we were again 
attacked by a volley of about fifteen shots. Seeing the 



Of the Laws of War 25 

Germans on the edge of the wood, I, Dentz, opened fire. 
Nineteen shots were fired, upon which the enemy with- 
drew. Nobody on our side was hit. 

Signed by the above-named officers at Petit- 
Croix, on the 19th August, 1914. 

REPORT from the Station of Chavannes-les-Grands . 

I, the undersigned, Lieutenant Savarin, commanding 
the Station of Chavannes-les-Grands, certify that on the 
26. August, 1914, at about nine o'clock in the morning 
I was passing through Chavanatte, about 2 kilometres' 
distance from the frontier, when I saw coming by the 
road from Suarce, a patrol consisting of about ten Ger- 
man cavalrymen, which first spread through the 
orchards of this village, and then following the same 
road, made for Chavannes-les-Grands, where shortly 
afterwards it was received with shots fired by the men 
that I had rapidly posted on the outskirts of the place. 
At ten o'clock I learned that a strong German patrol had 
reached the farm of La Taille, three kilometres from the 
frontier. At about eleven o'clock I saw several German 
cavalrymen at the crossroads leading from Chavannes- 
les-Grands to Vellescot and to Montreux-Chateau, 2 
kilometres from the frontier, making in the direction of 
the boundary mark which stands on the latter road. 
(Signed) Lieutenant Savarin, 

Saint-Dizier, 20^ August, 1914. 



26 



Violations of the Laws of War 



Eight other reports, similar to those above given, 
were enclosed in the despa'tch from the Inspector of 
Customs at Belfort. In order not to overburden this 
work, they are not inserted here. But they are held at 
the disposal of the Powers, as well as seven official 
reports of investigations conducted by other adminis- 
trative authorities. There are in all, nineteen official 
reports which prove the violation of the French frontier 
by German patrols notably at the following points : 
Station of Chavannes-les-Grands, August 2, 11 a.m. 

Boron, August 2, 11.15 A.M. 

Romagny, August 2, 9.40 A.M. 

Suarce, August 2, 9 a.m. 

Lepuix-sur-Selle, August 2, 8.45 a.m. 

Courtelevant, August 2, 9.15 A.M. 

Faverois, August 2, 9.45 A.M. 

Lanfroicourt, August 2, 5.30 p.m. 

Letricourt, August 2, 5.30 p.m. 

Ban-de-Laveline, August 2, 5 p.m. 

Bezanze-la-Grande, August 3, 9.30 a.m. 

Moncel, August 3, 11.30 a.m. 

Vaucourt, August 3, 12 noon. 

Brin-sur-Seille, August 3, 1 p.m. 

Rechicourt, August 3, 1 p.m. 



CHAPTER III 
THE KILLING OF PRISONERS AND WOUNDED 

THE UNDERTAKINGS GIVEN BY GERMANY 

IT is forbidden: 

(c) To kill or wound an enemy who, having laid down 
his arms, or no longer having means of defence, has sur- 
rendered at discretion. 

(d) To declare that no quarter will be given. 

(Article 23 of the Regulations of The Hague.) 
THE DEEDS OF GERMANY 

i . French Evidence. 
No. 7 

POLICE REPORT concerning the murder of 
nine wounded men at Benviler (Meurthe and 
Moselle). 

On this day, the 30th November, 1914, at 11.30 a.m., 
we, the undersigned, Alphonse Rouillon and Paul Pierson, 
unmounted police, stationed at Luneville in the Depart- 
ment of Meurthe-et-Moselle, wearing our uniform and 
carrying out the orders of our superior officers, acting upon 
a request for information issued by the Sub-Prefect of 

27 



28 Germany's Violations 

Luneville, dated the 21st November, 1914, forwarded to 
us by our district Inspector under No. 3397 3/1, took down 
the following evidence : 

M. Joseph Houillon, 69 years of age, cultivating the farm 
of La Petite Rochelle at Benviler, declares as follows : 

"On the 22d August, 1914, at about two o'clock 
in the afternoon, nine wounded men came to my house, 
amongst them a quartermaster of the 81st Regiment. 
I made them lie down in my barn while waiting for help, 
but about twenty minutes later there came a company 
of German infantry. Its captain, seeing these French 
soldiers, gave the order to four oj his men to finish them off 
by shooting them in the ear. This order was forthwith 
carried out. These poor wounded men were put to 
death and their bodies were left in my barn. 

"On the 26th August an armed body of Germans 
commanded by an officer came and proceeded to bury 
their victims, after having taken from them their 
medals, and such money as they possessed. I noticed 
that the quartermaster, whose name I do not know, 
had a little canvas bag attached to the right side of the 
belt of his trousers or drawers, which contained one 100 
franc note and three 5-franc pieces. As regards the 
appearance of this soldier, I remember that he was of 
medium height and that his hair was brown, that is all 
I can tell you about him. 

"After the burial, a German soldier told me that the 
medals and the money thus taken would be restored 



Of the Laws of War 29 

after the war to the families of these soldiers, whose 
names and regimental numbers had been duly noted. 

"All these brave fellows now lie in the same grave, 
opposite my house. 

"I should add that the Germans compelled me to 
burn all that was left of the clothing and effects of these 
nine soldiers." 

Read to the witness, confirmed and signed by him. 

We have established the fact that nine soldiers have 
been buried in the neighbourhood of an inhabited 
house and of a well which supplies the same. 

It is to be observed that no other quartermaster of 
the 8 1st Infantry Regiment has been buried in the 
district of Ben viler. 



In testimony whereof, we have drawn up the present 
official report in three copies, one to be forwarded to the 
Sub-Prefect at Luneville, one to the General commanding 
the 20th District, and the third to our superior officers, in 
accordance with Article 298 of the Decree of the 20th May, 
1903. 

Done at Luneville on the date above stated. 

{Signed) Pierson. 
{Signed) Rouillon. 

No. 3638. Seen and forwarded: 

Nancy, 7th December, 1914. 
{Signed) Dore, 
Major commanding the Company of 
Meurthe-et-Moselle. 



30 Germany's Violations 

No. 8 

POLICE REPORT relating to the massacre of 
thirty French prisoners at " Les Tiges," Saint-Die 
( Vosges) . 

October 15, 1914. 

On this day, 15th October, 1914, at 4 p.m. we, the under- 
signed, Eugene Albert Cointrin and Henri Troisgros, un- 
mounted police, stationed at Saint-Die, in the department 
of the Vosges, wearing our uniform, and in pursuance of 
the orders of our superior officers, acting upon the request 
for information made by the Public Prosecutor at Saint- 
Die in the department of the Vosges, on the 14th October, 
1914, No. 2625/3 took down the following evidence: 

Madame Wogt (Lea), born at Aubry, 22 years of age, 
worker in the factory known as "Les Tiges" at Saint-Die, 
states : 

"On Saturday, 29th August, 1914, between 10 and 
1 1 o'clock in the morning, at the time when an engage- 
ment was taking place in the neighbourhood between 
the German and French troops, I had taken refuge with 
my father-in-law in the cellar of the house in which I 
reside. 

"Thirty soldiers of the 99th Regiment of Infantry 
came to take shelter in this cellar. They were dis- 
covered there by German soldiers. Seeing the Germans, 
the French soldiers laid down their arms and gave them- 
selves up as prisoners. My father-in-law, who speaks 
German, conveyed to the Germans what the French 



Of the Laws of War 31 

soldiers were saying, but one of them replied in German, 
■ We do not want any prisoners.' They made the French 
soldiers come out of the cellar and then compelled them 
to go down on their knees in the garden which adjoins 
the house; later they led them to the front of the house, 
and placed them up against it, a yard's distance from 
the wall, facing towards the road, and there they shot 
them. I did not witness the last part of this scene, for 
I was utterly overcome; I only heard from the cellar 
the noise of the firing, ,and the last anguished cries of 
the French soldiers. A few moments afterwards I came 
out and there I saw, stretched side by side and lifeless, 
the thirty Frenchmen. Before being shot one of the 
soldiers wished to give me the address of his wife, but he 
was not able to do so, for he was roughly dragged away by 
his executioners. Before leaving the house the Germans 
destroyed all the French arms which they found there." 

Antoine Wogt, 69 years of age, a weaver of Saint-Die, 
residing at No. 7 Rue de la Grotte, makes the following 
declaration : 

"Some time towards the end of August (I cannot 
remember the exact date), at the time when the Ger- 
mans occupied Saint-Die and its neighbourhood, and 
when they were fighting our troops, thirty French 
soldiers of the 99th Infantry Regiment, came to seek 
shelter in the cellar, whither I had gone with my 
daughter-in-law. 



32 Germany's Violations 

"A squad of German soldiers came and found them 
there. I said to the Frenchmen, 'Surrender/ and I 
communicated to the Germans in German their request 
to do so. One of the Germans replied: 'There is no 
quarter; they have got to die.' The Germans took out 
the French soldiers, and led them to the front of the 
house. There they placed them in one line on their 
knees and shot them. The Germans who carried out 
this execution were in considerable force, and I did not 
notice what was the number of their regiment. The 
corpses of the French soldiers remained where they were 
for at least eight days." 

In testimony whereof we have drawn up the present 
document in duplicate, one copy to be forwarded to the 
Public Prosecutor at Saint-Die and the other to the officer 
commanding the district, as required by Article 298 of the 
Decree of the 20th May, 1903. 

Done and concluded at Saint-Die on the 15th October, 
1914. 

(Signed) Troisgros. 
(Signed) Cointrin. 

No. 9 

OFFICIAL REPORT of a statement made by 
Felix Herbet, a soldier of the 1st class of the 106th 
Regiment, wounded in action and undergoing 
treatment at the auxiliary hospital, No. 201 , at Mar- 
seilles, referring to the killing of four wounded men 
at Lavoux-Marie (Meuse). 



Of the Laws of War 33 

On this day, the 7th February, 191 5, 9 a.m., we the 
undersigned, Noel -Maurice- Victor Gaussail, Squadron 
Commander of Mounted Police, detached for duty under 
the General Commanding the 15th District; Auguste Perrin, 
Chief Surgeon of the 2d Class of the Garrison Staff at 
Marseilles, and Leon Jacquot, Sergeant of Mounted Police, 
stationed at Marseilles in the Department of the Bouches- 
du-Rhone (the latter acting as Recorder), having taken 
the usual oath, wearing our uniform and acting in accord- 
ance with the orders of the General Commanding 15th 
District, issued under date of 5th February, 1915, report as 
follows : 



We proceeded to the auxiliary hospital, No. 201, 
installed at the Grand Lycee of Marseilles, where we 
saw a private of the 1st Class, Felix Herbet, belonging 
to the 1 06th Regiment of Infantry, 5th Company, 
Class of 1 91 3, pastry-cook by profession, now under- 
going treatment at the said -hospital, who, being ques- 
tioned, made the following statement : 

"On the 10th September last, towards five o'clock 
in the morning, during a night attack at Lavoux-Marie, 
near to Rambercourt-aux-Pots (Meuse), the Germans 
turned the right of the slope which we were defending 
and opened fire upon us; I was struck in the right side 
by a bullet which pierced the intestine (confirmed by 
an assistant surgeon attached to the Auxiliary Hospital, 
No. 26, at Bar-le-Duc) ; I fell, and begged one of my 
comrades to remove my knapsack, which he did at 
once. At that moment my company was obliged to 



34 Germany's Violations 

retreat and I remained on the spot with three comrades 
who had also been seriously wounded. The Germans 
took possession of the slope, and then left it to continue 
the pursuit, detaching a few of their men to hold the 
position. These men proceeded to search our knapsacks 
and especially mine; they took my box of preserves, 
and from the right-hand pocket of my trousers they 
took also a packet of tobacco and my watch and chain. 

"All of a sudden, and quite unexpectedly, I received 
a violent blow on the head from the butt of a rifle, then 
a second and a third; I lost a great deal of blood but 
made no sound and feigned death. One of them fired 
at me either with a gun or with a revolver; I cannot 
say which it was, for I was no longer capable of seeing 
anything clearly. This shot only grazed my right arm, 
scorching it badly. I then heard them say, 'Kaput! 
Kaput ! ' and they left me there. Close by me my three 
comrades were in their death-agony; they had also 
been shot point-blank with rifles. 

' ' I remained there for about half an hour, and then 
I dragged myself, as best I could, to a distance of about 
ioo yards from the spot where I had been wounded. At 
this moment I saw a wounded Frenchman leaving the 
slope. Hardly had he gone ioo yards when he was 
stopped by a German officer, who killed him by shooting 
him in the head with a revolver. I was utterly terrified 
by what I had seen and I owe the preservation of my 
life to the fact that for the rest of the day I remained 



Of the Laws of War 35 

lying in the mud pretending to be dead. All this time 
the Germans were passing quite close to me, and I 
dared not move. I had to pass the whole night in this 
condition and on the following morning, the nth 
September, seeing nobody about, I was able to drag 
myself as far as the 54th Regiment of French Infantry 
which was in the neighbourhood, close to Marat-La- 
Petite. I was saved, and happy not to be a prisoner in 
the hands of the Germans." 

Statement read, confirmed, and signed in our presence 
and under oath. 

{Signed) F. Herbet, L. Jacquot, 
N. Gaussail, Dr. A. Perrin. 

Hereto attached is the certificate of the medical exami- 
nation made by Dr. Perrin, Chief Surgeon of the 2d Class, 
who examined the wounded man. 

In testimony of which we have drawn up the present 
official report in duplicate, the first copy together with the 
said medical certificate, to be forwarded to the Minister of 
War at Paris, and the second for our archives. 

Done at Marseilles on the day, month, and year above 
stated. 

{Signed) L. Jacquot, N. Gaussail, Dr. Perrin. 

No. 10 

REPORT by Colonel Chiche, commanding the 
12,4th Reserve Brigade, concerning the massacre of 
over fifty French prisoners near the trench at 
Calonne. 



36 Germany's Violations 

Vaux-les-Palameix, September 23, 1914. 
On the 22d September, 19 14, at about 3.45 
p.m., as the result of the vigorous counter-attack 
led by the colonel commanding the 134th Brigade, 
by Major Yehl and Captain Lauth, the 288th 
Regiment regained possession of the trench at 
Calonne. 

On arrival at the crossways formed by this trench and 
the road which leads from Vaux to Saint-Remy, a 
stretcher-bearer corporal of the 288th drew the atten- 
tion of the colonel to the peculiar appearance of some 
fifteen dead and wounded Frenchmen who were lying 
in the wood. Of these men one non-commissioned 
officer was still alive. He gave a very moving account 
of their terrible experiences. Surrounded in the wood, 
and most of them wounded, they had been taken 
prisoners by the Germans, then advancing. When the 
Germans were compelled to retire, they made these 
prisoners lie down and shot them on the ground, with- 
out formalities of any kind and with savage brutality. 
In certain cases the heads of the victims were literally 
reduced to pulp. 

Burning with indignation at the perpetration of such 
atrocities, the colonel was proceeding towards the road 
when he was informed that acts of the same kind had 
been committed in that part of the wood which lies to 
the north of the trench at Calonne. There a regular 
shambles was found, some forty French soldiers of the 



Of the Laws of War 37 

54th, 67th, and 259th Regiments lying on the ground 
with their heads shattered. 

Three soldiers who have survived these atrocities 
are now in the hospital of the 288th Regiment at Vaux- 
les-Palameix, namely Privates Tantot 1 and Grandjean 
of the 1st Company of the 54th, and Private Chevalier, 1 
of the 20th Company of the 261st. These men will be 
able to supply all further details required for the infor- 
mation of the higher authorities. 

{Signed) Chiche, 

Colonel commanding the 134th Brigade. 

{Signed) De Boixo, 

Staff Officer. By Order. 
Forwarded, Ranzieres, 24th September, 1914. 

{Signed) M arab ail, 

General commanding the 67th Reserve Division. 

No, 11 

REPORT by Captain Eydoux, commanding the 
1st Battalion of the 67th Regiment of Infantry, 
concerning the same crime. 

On the 22d September the 1st Battalion of the 67th 
occupied a supporting position at the crossways formed 
by the road from Mouilly to Saint-Remy and the main 
trench of Calonne. At about 2 p.m. the 3d Company 

1 The statements of Privates Tantot and Chevalier have been taken. 
They confirm the fact that the prisoners were shot point-blank. 



38 Germany's Violations 

was sent forward to support the 1st Battalion of the 
54th, at the eastern edge of the wood of Saint-Remy. 
About half an hour later, the 54th having withdrawn, 
without this being known to the lieutenant in command 
of the 3d Company, a section of that company was 
cut off by a German company and some thirty men 
were taken prisoners. 

Compelled to beat a retreat, the Germans took their 
prisoners with them, but shortly afterwards they made 
them lie down, and having withdrawn to a distance of 
a few yards, fired upon them, killing and wounding a 
great number. 

These facts are certified by Privates Louvain, Cotte, 
and Debeze, who succeeded in making good their escape. 

{Signed) Eydoux. 

Seen and forwarded: 

{Signed) M. Bard, 

Colonel commanding the 67th. 

No. 12 

STATEMENT by Sub-Lieutenant Bosveuil of 
the 61st Regiment of Infantry, with reference to the 
killing of a Frenchman, wounded at Avocourt 
(Meuse) . 

Lyons, Auxiliary Hospital, No. 51. 
February 12, 1915. 

I, the undersigned, Louis Bosveuil, Sub-lieutenant of 
the Reserve in the 6ist Regiment of Infantry, declare 



Of the Laws of War 39 

on my honour that I am prepared to testify to the truth 
of the following occurrence: 

On the 23d September, 19 14, after the attack by 
the Germans on the village of Avocourt (Meuse), which 
attack was repulsed by a bayonet charge of certain 
troops of the 141st and 61st Regiments, I passed a line 
of killed and wounded — Frenchmen and Germans. As 
I passed, I heard myself called by a wounded French- 
man of the 141st, who Was lying on the ground, and 
who thus addressed me : 

"Lieutenant, will you please undo my knapsack and 
lay my head comfortably ? Those bandits have finished 
me, I am going to die. A bullet had struck me in the 
knee, and I was dragging myself along the ground, 
unarmed, when the Germans came upon me and riddled 
me with their bayonets. I have at least three wounds 
in the stomach and as many more in the. chest; an 
officer discharged his revolver at my head. I have 
a wife and child. Tell me at least that we are 
winning." 

My reply in the affirmative brought comfort to this 
brave soldier in his hour of death, which seemed to me 
close at hand, but which I did not witness. Night was 
falling, and I had to gather my section together, and 
bring in some prisoners. 

{Signed) Bosveuil. 



40 Germany's Violations 

No. 13 

OFFICIAL REPORT of a statement made by 
Private Charton, in extremis, having reference to 
the massacre of fifty or sixty French prisoners in 
the vicinity of Mouilly (Meuse) . 

Verdun, October 2, 1914. 

Albert Charton, a native of Paris, private in the 254th 
Regiment of Infantry, admitted to the temporary 
hospital No. 8 at Verdun on the 24th September, has 
made the following statement in the presence of Cor- 
poral Collin of the Medical Staff, of Hospital Attend- 
ant Batancourt, and of Instructor Rousseaux: 

"On the 22d or 23d September, some fifty or sixty 
soldiers of the 254th Infantry were made prisoners by 
the Germans in the neighbourhood of Mouilly (Meuse). 
Amongst these men was an adjutant. 

"After having disarmed them, a German captain 
drew his revolver and blew out the brains of the adju- 
tant. This was the signal for a general massacre. The 
soldiers, under this captain's orders, proceeded imme- 
diately to shoot the Frenchmen point-blank. Not a 
single one was spared." 

Charton, like all his comrades, was dreadfully 
wounded; an explosive bullet carried away the flesh 
of his left arm, the second bullet produced a complicated 
fracture of the left thigh, and a third made a large open 



Of the Laws of War 41 

wound in the soft part of the left calf. (Extract from 
the records of temporary hospital No. 8, dated the 24th 
September, 1914.) 

Thus grievously wounded, Charton fell and lost 
consciousness, to which fact he owed his safety for the 
time being. Left for dead, he was not finished off by 
the Germans. He was picked up on the following 
day, or perhaps a day later, entered the temporary 
hospital No. 8, on the 24th September, and died there 
on the 28th. 

Recorded at Verdun on the 2d October, 1914, and de- 
clared to be true and trustworthy by the above-mentioned 
witnesses. 

{Signed) Batancourt. Collin. Rousseaux. 

No. 14 

REPORT by Captain Louvard, of the Staff of the 
2>d Group of Reserve Divisions, to General P. 
Durand, commanding the 3d Group, having 
reference to the killing of the wounded left on the field 
at Chauvoncourt-Courouvre (Meuse). 

Courouvre, September 29, 1914. 

Sir, — I have the honour to inform you that on the 
26th instant, being then with a portion of the staff at 
Rupt, before Saint-Mihiel, I was asked by the doctor 
of a field hospital of the 75th Division to take down the 
statements of several wounded soldiers, who had seen 



42 Germany's Violations 

the Germans finishing off the French wounded left 
upon the field after the attack on Ghauvoncourt. 

At the field hospital I saw the following wounded 
men: 

(i) Private Paul Chauvet, of the 258th of the line 
(Class of 1904, Avignon, No. 1086). Having been left 
wounded upon the field before Chauvoncourt, after 
the withdrawal of the French troops, he saw three 
German soldiers going from one wounded man 
to another and finishing them off by firing at them 
point-blank. 

(2) Private Louis Teissier, of the 258th of the line 
(Class of 1905, Avignon, No. 679), wounded in the 
same attack, witnessed the same spectacle. 

(3) Private Albert Grousson, of the 258th of the 
line (Class of 1894, Antibes, No. 131), wounded 
in the attack upon the barracks at Chauvoncourt, 
was left upon the field and served as a target for 
several German soldiers, who only ceased firing 
at him when he fell prone upon the ground and 
pretended to be dead. At that time there had not 
been any French troops in the vicinity for over an 
hour. 

These clear and formal statements were received by 
me in the presence of the following witnesses: 

(1) Dr. Durand, surgeon-major of the 1st class, 
in charge of field hospital No. 1 of the 75th Reserve 
Division ; 



Of the Laws of War 43 

(2) Dr. Moirand, assistant surgeon of the same field 
hospital ; 

(3) Captain Gransard, of the Staff of the 3d Army. 

{Signed) Louvard. 

Seen and forwarded : 

Headquarters at Verdun, ist October, 1914. 

{Signed) Sarrail, 

General commanding the 3d Army. 

No. 15 

OFFICIAL REPORT of the dying statement of 
Private Godefroy of the 39th Regiment. 

September 19, 191 5. 

On the 19th September, there was brought to our 
hospital, from the railway station at Rosny, a wounded 
man named Eugene Godefroy, of the 39th Infantry 
Regiment, a native of Rouen (Lower Seine), class of 
1904, resident at Dieppe. 

Examined on the spot, he was found to be suffering 
from an injury to the medulla, the result of a wound 
from a shell, with paralysis of the lower limbs. CEdema 
had set in in both his legs, which were covered with 
many large bruises and welts. His feet, in particular, 
were quite shapeless; the toes had been completely 
crushed, bursting the skin, and the whole presented the 



44 Germany's Violations 

appearance of sanguinary pulp, coagulated into a 
purplish black mass. His condition was declared to be 
desperate; he died at one o'clock in the afternoon of the 
20th. 

He had strength enough to talk, and he informed 
doctors Calonne and Maclaud, as well as the nurse who 
was attending him, that he had had his feet smashed 
with blows from the butt-ends of rifles by German 
soldiers, while lying wounded on the field of battle, and 
unable to escape. 

The present statement has been drawn up to be for- 
warded to the military authorities, by Dr. Calonne and 
by Madame Fournier, Hospital Nurse. Dr. Maclaud, 
being absent, is unable to sign. 

(Signed) Dr. Calonne. 

(Signed) Fournier-Daubignard. 

(Signed) Dr. R. Paillot, 

Chief Surgeon of the Hospital of Nogent-sur-Marne. 

No. 16 

STATEMENT of Private Lafleur of the 21st 
Regiment of Colonial Infantry, who after being 
disarmed, was shot in the face by a Bavarian officer. 

On the 3d April, 191 5, I, the undersigned, Larcher, 
Assistant in the Commissariat, acting reporter to the First 
Council of War of Paris, acting under instructions issued 
by the Military Governor of Paris on the 16th March, 1915, 



Of the Laws of War 45 

assisted by M. Massenet, Staff Secretary, acting as Re- 
corder, proceeded to the hospital at the Lycee Michelet 
at Vanves. We summoned before us the witness, Gustave 
Lafieur, 33 years of age, an assistant station-master of the 
Metropolitan Railway, a private in the 21st Colonial 
Regiment, residing at No. 214 Faubourg Saint-Antoine, 
Paris; who, having been duly sworn, made statement as 
follows : 

"On the 26th September, at Ville-sur-Tourbe, in the 
Argonne, I was with my comrades firing on the Germans 
at a distance of 60 yards; but the enemy had the 
advantage in numbers and were advancing rapidly. 
Several of my comrades had fallen mortally wounded 
by my side. I tried to escape, but the Germans were 
all around me, and I was taken prisoner. I was led 
before a Lieutenant of the 69th Bavarian Regiment, 
who had me disarmed and ordered me to stand to 
attention. He searched me, and took from me my 
purse, containing 62 francs, together with all the private 
papers on my person. Then, seizing his revolver, while 
I was still standing to attention, he fired straight at my 
face. The bullet penetrated the left side of my nose, 
passed through the arch of the palate, and came out 
under my right ear, breaking the bones of my right 
jaw. I have no palate left, and have lost all sense of 
smell and taste. I was left for dead on the spot by the 
Germans. Having seen them depart, my only idea was 
to get back to the French lines. I got up therefore and 
began to move painfully in that direction. No sooner 



46 Germany's Violations 

had I done so than a shower of explosive bullets fell all 
about me, but I was not hit. Although greatly weak- 
ened by loss of blood and pain, I ran with all my 
strength, and plunged into the river of La Tourbe. I 
was able by swimming to reach the house of the Colonel, 
which lies close to the level-crossing of the railway. I 
informed my Colonel of all the facts. He did all he 
could for me, and he was so indignant that a German 
officer should have committed such a crime, that he had 
my statement taken down on oath forthwith by the 
justice of the peace at Pougues-les-Eaux. My state- 
ment must have been forwarded to the Minister of 
War." 

The above read to the witness, confirmed, and signed 

in our presence. 

{Signed) G. Lafleur. 

{Signed) Massenet. 

{Signed) Larcher. 

No. 17 

REPORT by Sergeant Maginot of the 6th Com- 
pany of the \^th Territorial Regiment to the 
Lieut. -Col. in command of the said Regiment, on 
the finding of the mutilated body of a French 
soldier at Ornes {Meuse) . 

Bezonvaux, October 24, 1914. 

On the 2 1st October, 19 14, I left Bezonvaux village to 
carry out patrol duty in the direction of Ornes. 



Of the Laws of War 47 

I had heard that a section of the 164th had fallen 
into an ambush, and had lost several men one of whom, 
a sergeant, was said to be wounded. I came to Ornes 
half an hour after noon, and there amongst the orchards 
at the entrance to the village I found the body of a 
soldier of the 164th, named Ancel, who had disappeared 
that morning. By means of his regimental certificate, 
his badge, and certain papers found upon him we were 
able to establish his identity. 

There were no bullet wounds on the body, but the 
skull was literally in a jelly and the brains strewn out 
on the ground. There was nothing left of the face, and 
one ear had been cut off. They had literally kicked the 
wretched man's head to pieces. By the side of his 
body we found his rifle, smashed in two in the way 
customary to the Germans, but there was no sign 
of blood on the butt of the weapon. There is no 
doubt whatever that Private Ancel was made to 
suffer most terrible cruelties. One must have seen the 
body to have any idea of the barbarities which the 
Germans can inflict on those of our men who fall into 
their hands. 

At the time of the discovery of the body of Private 
Ancel, the following men were present: Sergeant Magi- 
not, Patrol Leader; Privates Poilblanc, Georges, 
Cochois, Bienaime, Lecrique, all of the 7th Company; 
Toussaint, Mahaut, Mancolin, Delabarre, Fondeur, and 
Robert, all of the 8th Company; who have signed this 



48 Germany's Violation 

report, and state on their word of honour as soldiers 
that the facts above described are absolutely true. 

(Signed) Sergeant Maginot. Toussaint. 

poilblanc. mahaut. 

Georges. Mancolin. 

Cochois. Delabarre. 

Bienaime. Fondeur. 

Lecrique. Robert. 

The Lieut. -Col. commanding the 44th Regiment of 
Territorial Infantry, certifies the above signatures. 

(Signed) Demange. 

Fleury, October 25, 1914. 

II. German Evidence 

No. 18 

ORDER of the day by General Stenger, ordering 
the killing of prisoners, whether wounded or 
not. I 

1 Note by Translator: The killing of prisoners, as a matter of pre- 
determined policy and procedure, has by no means been confined to 
General Stenger's brigade. There is evidence from other German 
sources to show that neither the German army nor the German people 
sees anything disgraceful in these atrocities. On the contrary, they are 
regarded as a proof of German prowess. Witness the following report 
of 'an engagement, written by Corporal Klemt of the 154th Regiment 
and confirmed by Lieut, von Niem, commanding his company, which 
was published in the Jauer'sche Tageblatt on the 18th October, 19 14, 
and subsequently reproduced in the German work entitled " J 'Accuse " — 

"A Day of Honour for our Regiment, September 24, 1914": 

"We discovered the first Frenchmen. We brought them down from the 



Of the Laws of War 49 

From and after the month of September, 1914, the 
French Government received through several channels 
information to the effect that General Stenger, com- 
manding the 58th Brigade (112th and I42d Regiments 
of German Infantry), had given orders to his troops to 
kill their prisoners. His order had been communicated 
verbally, by a number of officers belonging to various 
units of the brigade, and repeated in the ranks from man 
to man. For this reason, it has reached us in several 

trees like squirrels; on the ground they got a warm reception with butt- 
ends and bayonets, and had no further need of a doctor. We are now 
fighting not with honourable foes but with treacherous brigands. 
With a leap we were over the glade. There they were in the hedges. On 
to them! No quarter was given. We shoot as we stand, a very few 
kneeling. No one thinks now of cover. We came to a hollow. Dead 
and wounded Frenchmen lay in masses around. The wounded were done 
to death with stabs or blows, for we know that the scoundrels fire at 
us in the back when we have gone by. There lay one full length with 
his face on the ground, feigning to be dead. The kick of a sturdy 
musketeer soon taught him that we were there. Turning round, he 
asked for quarter, but, with the words, "Do you see, you — ., that is 
how the things pierce?" he was pinned to the earth. From close by 
came the strange cracking sound of butt-end blows, which a man of the 
154th crashed down on a French baldhead. He wisely used a French 
musket for the task in order not to destroy his own. Men with specially 
soft feelings give the coup de grace to the wounded Frenchmen with a 
bullet ; the others hack and stab for all they are worth. Bravely have our 
opponents fought; they were picked men whom we had before us. They 
let us approach to within 30-10 metres; then, to be sure, it was too late. 
They lie at the entrance to the screen of branches with wounds slight 
or severe, whining for quarter. Our brave musketeers save the Father- 
land the heavy cost of feeding so many enemies. 

After the "bloody work" the Germans lay down to sleep. The god 
of dreams paints for one and another a sweet picture. With a prayer 
of thankfulness on our lips we prepared by slumber for the coming 
day. 



50 Germany's Violations 

forms, all of which, however, agree as to their general 
sense. Two of the forms are as follows: 

(a) "Von heute ab werden keine Gefangene mehr gemacht. 
Sammtliche Gefangene, verwundet oder unverwundet, sind 
niederzumachen . ' ' 

"From and after today no more prisoners are to be 
taken. All prisoners, whether wounded or not, are to be 
killed.' 

(b) "Von heute ad werden keine Gefangene mehr ge- 
macht. Sammtliche Gefangene werden niedergemacht. 
Verwundete, ob mit Waffen oder wehrlos, niedergemacht. 
Gefangene auch in grosseren geschlossenen Formationen 
werden niedergemacht. Es bleibe kein Feind lebend hinter 
uns." 

"From and after today no more prisoners are to be 
taken. All prisoners are to be massacred. The wounded, 
whether with or without arms, are to be killed off. Even 
when prisoners are in regularly constituted units they are 
to be killed. No living enemy must be left behind us." 

In order to verify this information, the French 
Government ordered an inquiry to be instituted in the 
various prisoners' camps. A certain number of soldiers 
belonging to the two regiments of the Stenger brigade 
were questioned, in accordance with the regular pro- 
cedure of judicial inquiry, at the depots of Montbrison 
(Loire), Saint-Genest-Lerpt (Loire), Bontheon (Loire), 
and La Roche- Arnaud (Haute- Loire) , by M. Jules 
Picard, Commissary of Police; at the depot of Romans 



Of the Laws of War 51 

(Dr6me) by M. Jean Ernest, local Justice of the Peace; 
at the depot of Saint-Rambert (Loire) by M. Jean- 
Dominique Poggi, local Justice of the Peace. The 
evidence, taken in each case upon oath, is all to the same 
effect. It shows that the order of General Stenger was 
conveyed to the troops at Thiaville (Meurthe-et-Mo- 
selle) and in the neighbourhood on the afternoon of the 
26th August, and that on the same day, at several 
places, French prisoners were killed and French wounded 
put to death. 

For reasons of expediency it is not advisable that 
these statements should be published at the present 
time. In order to establish the facts beyond all pos- 
sibility of doubt, it will suffice for the present to re- 
produce here a page from the route diary of a private 
soldier in the Stenger brigade, one Anton Rothacher, a 
native of Wiirtemb'erg (from Kappell-bei-Buchau) . of 
the 7th Company of the 14.26. Regiment of Infantry. 
As will be seen, this soldier explains the order of General 
Stenger by observing that the French were the first to 
set the example of ill-treating the wounded. This 
statement is a pure invention. Here is the document. 
Anton Rothacher, after leaving the camp of instruc- 
tion at Heuberg on the 29th July, recorded in his diary, 
day by day, all the stages on the line of march, and 
noted also briefly, but with careful precision, all the 
acts and movements of his regiment. Thus, on the 
26th August, he records the fact that his company had 



52 Germany's Violations 

been reduced in strength from 250 to 70 men. He then 
adds: 

DONERSTAG, 27 Ag., I9I4. 

"Das Rgm. wird eingetheilt. Aus dem ersten u. zweiten 
Batalion wird eins vormirt; ich werde der 8. Kpn. zugetheilt. 
Es kommen heute noch verschiedene Leute zuruck, welche 
sich in der Nacht im Walde verirrt haben. Unser Mayor 
Mosebach ist verwundet, weist aber kein Mensch wo er 
hingekommen ist. Die gefangenen u. verwundeten Fran- 
zosen werden alle erschossen, weil sie unsere Verwundete 
verstumpeln u. misshande[l]n. Brigadebefehl." 

Thursday, A ugust 27, 1914. 

"The regiment is reconstructed. A single battalion 
has been made out of the ist and 2d Battalions. I am 
appointed to the 8th Company. To-day again a number of 
men have rejoined who during the night had lost their way 
in the forest. Our Major, Mosebach, is wounded, but no 
one knows what has become of him. French prisoners and 
wounded are all shot, because they mutilate and ill-treat 
our wounded. Brigade Order." 

Further, another soldier of the same brigade, the 
Reservist Reinhard Brenneisen, of the 4th Company 
of the 1 1 2th Regiment, at present a prisoner in England, 
wrote in his note-book: 

"Auch kam Brigadebefehl samtliche Franzosen ob ver- 
wundet oder nicht die uns in die Hande fielen sollten ers- 
chossen werden, es durfte keinen Gefangenen gemacht 
werden." 



Of the Laws of War 53 

"The Brigade Order is to shoot all Frenchmen who fall 
into our hands, wounded or not. No prisoners to be 
made." 










-v 1 ■t^A-'- <s$ ^'U ' $ J 'f '•■■xif'4 K 

• ,5 ' w -•-. A * % v^ ^ v X! S. v ^ % X ^ 4 "•> x ? 
Extract from the note-book of Anton Rothacher, see p. 52. 



54 Germany's Violations 

No. 19 

A UTOGRAPH statements by two privates of the 
38th Regiment of Prussian Reserve Infantry, de- 
scribing how a number of French prisoners were 
shot by the orders of Captain Zeiche, Lieutenant 
Kaps, and Lieutenant Nehring. 

The following statements, emanating from two Prussian 
prisoners, both belonging to the same regiment, were 
first made verbally at Verdun, in the course of an 
inquiry conducted by Captain Rusterholtz, of the 2d 
Bureau of the Army Staff, in the presence of Interpreter 
Officer, Roger Dumas. Subsequently the two prisoners 
wrote out these statements, and signed them, but under 
the condition that their names would not be divulged. 
In reproducing these two documents, with all their 
peculiarities of writing and spelling, care has therefore 
been taken to eliminate from them, not only the names 
of the signatories, but also everything which might 
serve to identify them, by indicating their military and 
civil status. 

1. Deposition of Private A. 

Ich unterzeichneter, 

A . . . , geboren den . . . , zu . . . , Kreis . . . , 
und gehore zu der . . . ten Kompanie . . . ten 
Battaillons Reserve Regiment 38, schwore vor Gott das 
folgende Zeilen reine Warheit sind. 



Of the Laws of War 55 

Bei Wullrich gingen die Kameraden ins Dorf und 
wollten sich Holz und Essen hullen und die Zievielleute 
hatten gesagt sie sollen sie in Ruh lassen und wir wollen 
ihn geben so viel wir haben. Aber die Kameraden 
sagten : ' ' Ach was wollt ihr uns geben ? Wir holen uns 
selber was wir brauchen," und als dis Kameraden wieder 
auf den Biewackplatz kamen, sagten sie das sie Manner 
und Frauen erschossen haben ungefahr 1 1 Manner. 

Am 23 August wurden 2 Zieviellisten erschossen, weil 
sie bei den Soldaten auf dem Schlachtfelde die Taschen 
rewedriten (sic), und als der Hauptmann das sah, Hess 
er sie fangen und ihnen die Augen verbinden und 
wurden zusammen gebunden und eine Grupe von 
Hauptmann komandrit (sic) und Hess sie Nieder- 
schiessen. 

Am 23 August gab der Hauptmann Zeiche den Be- 
fehl das die Franzosen sollen erschossen werden. 

Am 9 September wurden 6 Franzosische Soldaten 
gefangene fruh Morgens und Nachmittags 8 Mann, das 
sind im ganzen 14 Mann und wurden auch erschossen 
und es war ein Artz dabei der sie unterrichtet hat und 
wie sie alle erschossen waren wurden sie Beargidt (sic) 
auf den Befehl des Kompaniefiihrers und ich der A 
. ■ . . war auch dabei wie die Leute erschossen wurden. 

Am 18 September wurden auch wieder 28 bis 30 
Mann gefangen nommen und wurden von driten Zuge 
mit Aufgeflanzten Seitengewehr die ganze Nacht be- 
wacht und wir Kameraden gaben den Gefangenen 



56 Germany's Violations 

Zwieback und sie gaben uns Ciegareten dafiir und Mor- 
gens friih wurden sie von einem Unteroffizier nach der 
Bahn gefiihrt; wo sie hinkamen weiss ich nicht, aber 
am selben Tag wurden wieder 20 Franzosen dann 18 
Gefangen. Der Leutnant Nering gab uns den Befehl 
weil er mit den Leuten nichts anzufangen wusste das 
wir diese 18 letzen erschiessen sollten, was geschah, 
und ich A . . . war auch dabei und mein erster Schuss 
draf und der 2te ging daneben, weil ein Kamerad mich 
gestossen hat. 

Alles Obriege ist von mier freiwillig geschrieben 
worden, den . . . 

{Signed) A . . . 

Translation 

I, the undersigned A . . . born the . . . at . . . 
and belonging to the . . . Company, . . . Battalion 
of the 38th Reserve Regiment, swear before God that 
the following lines contain nothing but the strict truth. 

At Wullrich (sic) T our men went into the village; they 
wanted wood and provisions, and the civilians had told 
them that if the troops would leave them alone, they 
would supply all that was needed. But our men said : 
"Ah, what would you give us? What we need we 
shall take for ourselves"; and when they came back 

1 This may refer to the Belgian village of Volkrich, twelve kilometres 
south-west of Aix-la-Chapelle. 



Of the Laws of War 57 

to bivouac, they declared that they had shot a number 
of men and women, about eleven men. 

On the 23d August two civilians were shot because 
they were rifling the pockets of soldiers on the field of 
battle. When the Captain saw this, he had them 
arrested and their eyes bandaged; they were tied 
together and a squad was told off by the Captain to 
shoot them. 

On the 23d August, Captain Zeiche gave the order 
to shoot Frenchmen. 

On the 9th September, six French soldiers were taken 
prisoners and eight more in the afternoon; that made 
fourteen men in all, and they also were shot, and there 
was there a doctor who examined them, and when they 
had all been killed they were buried by the order of the 
officer commanding the company, and I, A . . . was 
there, too, when these men were shot. 

On the 1 8th September, some twenty-eight to thirty 
prisoners were taken, and they were guarded all 
night by the third section with fixed bayonets; my 
comrades and I gave the prisoners some biscuits, and 
they gave us some cigarettes, and they were led away 
by a non-commissioned officer towards the railway; I 
do not know whither they were led, but on the same day 
twenty more Frenchmen were taken, and then again 
eighteen. Lieutenant Nehring gave us the order, as 
he did not know what to do with these prisoners, to 
shoot the last eighteen. This was done, and I, A , 



58 Germany's Violations 

was there, and my first shot hit its man; the second 
missed its mark, because one of my comrades jostled 
me. 

All the above has been written by me of my own 
free will, the . . . 

{Signed) A . . . 

2. Deposition of Private B. 

Ich unterzeichneter B . . . Landwehrmann der 
. . . Komp. 38 Rgts der Res., schwore vor Gott dem 
Allmachtigen, dass folgende Zeilen nur auf Wahrheit 
beruhen : 

Im August, den genauen Datum kann ich nicht 
angeben, wurde in unserer Kompagnie, der Befehl 
bekannt gegeben, alle franzosische Gefangenen ohn 
Nachsicht zu erschiessen. Als wir nun nach paar 
Tagen 6 franzosische Gefangene zum Transport zuge- 
teilt bekamen, gab Leutnant Kaps zwei Gruppen den 
Befehl, diese Gefangenen mit verbundenen Augen an 
Baume zu stellen und zu erschiessen. Dies wurde 
darauf auch getan. Den Befehl zur Salve gab Leut- 
nant Kaps selbst. Es wurde eine Salve abgegeben, 
bei der die franzosischen Gefangene sofort zusammen- 
stiirzten und nach Aussage des anwesenden Arztes 
auch tot waren. Die Entfernung, aus der geschossen 
wurde, betrug ungefahr 30 m. 

Das zweite mal, habe ich von einer ahnlichen Erschies- 



Of the Laws of War 59 

sung von 14 franzosischen Gefangenen durch die . . . 
Komp. von anderen Kameraden gehort. 

Das dritte mal horte ich von einem Kameraden in 
der letzten Zeit, dass er einmal Anfang August einen 
schwerverwundeten franzosischen Soldaten, der nach 
Wasser verlangte, habe auf Befehl seines Offiziers 
erschiessen miissen. 

Endlich habe ich auch mal von einem meiner Kame- 
raden gehort, dass er einmal ohne Befehl einen franzo- 
sischen Verwundeten erschossen habe. 

Vorstehendes habe ich freiwillig und nach reiflicher 
Uberlegung und mit bestem Gewissen niedergeschrieben. 
Es beruht auf Wahrheit. Dies bescheinige ich durch 
folgende Unterschrift. 

{Signed) B . . . 
Geschrieben den . . . zu Verdun. 

Translation 

I, the undersigned, B, belonging to the Company 

of the 38th Regiment of the Reserve, swear before Al- 
mighty God that the following lines contain nothing 
but the truth. In the month of August (I do not 
remember the exact date) our company received orders 
to shoot all French prisoners without mercy. A few 
days afterwards, when six French prisoners had been 
brought in, Lieut. Kaps, our company commander, 
gave the order to two squads to place the prisoners, 



60 Violations of the Laws of War 

with their eyes bandaged, against trees and to shoot 
them, which order was immediately carried out. Lieut. 
Kaps himself gave the order to shoot; only one volley 
was fired, upon which the French prisoners immediately 
fell in a heap. A doctor who was present declared 
that they were dead. They were shot at a distance of 
about thirty yards. On a second occasion I heard my 
comrades speak of a similar execution of fourteen French 
prisoners by the .... Company. On the last 
occasion, quite recently, I was told by a comrade that 
at the beginning of August he was ordered by an officer 
to shoot a badly wounded French soldier who was ask- 
ing for water. Another of my comrades told me that 
he had shot a wounded Frenchman without orders. 
I have written these lines of my own free will, in all 
sincerity and after mature reflection; they contain 
nothing but the truth. I confirm them by my signature. 

{Signed) B. 
Done at Verdun, the 30th December, 19 14. 



No. 20 

EXTRACT from the note-book of Sergeant- 
Major Bruchmann, of the 144^ Regiment of 
Infantry, \6th Army Corps, recording the order 
to finish off wounded Turcos. 

' ' Verwundeten Turkos soil kein Pardon gegeben 
werden. " 

"No quarter to be given to wounded Turcos. " 



61 



4.J&Sk a SV%&~ t * 
























No. 20 



62 



No. 21 

EXTRACT from the note-book of the Reservist 
Fahlenstein, of the 34th Fusiliers, 2d Army Corps, 
describing a massacre of wounded French soldiers, 
killed by order. 

"Da lagen sie (die Franzosen) haufenweise 8 bis 10 
Verwundete und Tote immer aufeinander. Die nun 
noch gehen konnten wurden gefangen und mitgenom- 
men. Die schwer verwundeten, die einen Kopfschuss 
oder Lungenschuss u. s. w. hatten, und nicht mehr auf 
konnten, bekamen denn noch eine Kugel zu, dass ihr 
Leben ein Ende hatte. Das ist uns ja auch befohlen 
worden. " 

"They (the French) lay in heaps of eight or ten, 
wounded or dead, one on top of the other. Those who 
could still walk were made prisoners and carried off with 
us. Those who were severely wounded, shot through 
the head or lungs, etc., and could not get up, received 
another bullet which put an end to them. These were 
the orders given to us." 

63 










$£m?*£: ■, .£^v*ji»4- jiiiyj^if sj$xt4 -*i'ff' •- >•»>>'*"; ,,/ 






|iH^^Sf**i^4 i ^ ; ?^ 



:-. 1 " I . ' ""* 




j<^4»V^ i*%M«^i l^Lt^^,^^ 

y ['.''•■• y ■ 4 I ' •' I ' ' >; • ' ' 

No. 21 
64 



No. 22 

EXTRA CT from the note-book of Heinrich Froh- 
lich, a Non-commissioned Officer of the 117th Regi- 
ment of Infantry, 3d Hessians, 18th Army Corps, 
recording the order to give no quarter. 

"Dienstag 8/9, /14. Befehl alle Franzosen, mit Aus- 
nahme der Verwundeten niederzuschiessen, auch wenn 
sie die Waffen strecken wollen, da die Franzosen uns 
bis auf nachste Entfernung herankommen liessen und 
dann mit heftigem Feuer uberraschten. " 

"Tuesday, September 8, 1914. Order to shoot 
down all French soldiers save the wounded, even if 
they wish to lay down their arms, because the French 
let us come very near, and then surprised us by violent 
firing." 



65 



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$<&%/} -^W 




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I. . ■» V^ ' j j ''( 








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NO. 22 



66 



No. 23 

EXTRACT from the note-book of Gottsche, a Non- 
commissioned Officer of the 85th Regiment of 
Infantry, gth Army Corps, recording the order to 
make no English prisoners. 

"Wir wollten ja den Fort zuerst nehmen, mussten 
aber noch in dem Ort Kessel Quartier beziehen. Der 
Herr Hauptmann rief uns um und sagte : ' In dem Fort 
das zu nehmen ist, sind aller Wahrscheinlichkeit nach 
Englander. Ich wiinsche aber keinen gefangenen Eng- 
lander bei der Kompagnie zu sehen.' Ein allgemeines 
Bravo der Zustimmung war die Antwort. " 

" October 6, 1914. We wanted to take the fort at once, 
but we had first to camp at Kessel [to the east of Ant- 
werp]. The captain called us round him and said: 
1 In the fort we are going to take there will very pro- 
bably be English soldiers. But I don't wish to see any 
English prisoners with my company.' A general Bravo! 
of approval was the answer." 



67 




He* 



y?*4&*£\. 







No. 23 



68 



No. 24 

EXTRACT from the diary of a private of the 
Reserve, Joh. Nusser, belonging to the jd Bavarian 
Regiment, Reserve. 

"5 Okt. Abends Abmarsch auf der Strasse nach 
Aras. Abends wurden vom 3 Zug (2 Gruppen) 14 
Turkos standrechtlich erschossen." 

. October 5. 

"At evening, start out on the road towards Arras. 
This evening two squads of the third section shot 
fourteen Turcos according to martial law." 



69 




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aaoe 



■^ aiMgfc — 



No. 24 



70 




7i 



No. 24 



No. 25 

FRAGMENT OF A LETTER found on Septem- 
ber 20, IQ14, at V Ecouvillon, in a German trench, 
recording the massacre of prisoners. 

Im Feld; 16th September, 1914. 

" . . . Frankreich wird bald fertig sein, denn sie 
haben ja keine Leute mehr alle Tage werden so und so 
viele gefangen genommen jetzt werden sie gleich Tod 
gemacht erschossen, denn wir haben so viele gefangen, 
dass wir es nicht wissen wo wir es hin tun sollen. Nun 
beschliesse ich mein Schreiben; indem ich auf baldige 
Antwort warte, verbleibe ich dein dich treu liebender. 

In the Field; 16th September, 1914. 
" '. . . France will soon be at an end, for she has no 
more men. Every day we take so many, many prison- 
ers. Now they are shot dead at once, for we have taken 
so many we don't know where to put them. Now I 
must end my letter. Hoping for a speedy reply, I 
remain, 

"Your truly loving 

"G ..." 

72 




No. 25 



73 



No. 26 

EXTRACT from the diary of Lieut. Lindau, of 
the ijth (Hohenzollern) Regiment of Artillery, 
recording the massacre of French prisoners by the 
order of a Bavarian colonel. 

"21 August. Im Dorf machten wir auch die ersten 
Gefangenen, 2 arme Teufels, die froh noch (?) waren. 
Ein baierischer Oberst hatte vorher die Gefangenen 
erschiessen lassen. " 

A ugnst 2 1 . 
"We took our first prisoners in the village, two poor 
devils who seemed delighted to be captured. Before 
this, prisoners had been shot by order of a Bavarian 
colonel." 



74 




3 




ll 




No. 26 



75 



CHAPTER IV 
LOOTING, ARSON, RAPE, MURDER 

THE UNDERTAKINGS GIVEN BY GERMANY 

"The laws, rights, and duties of war apply not only 
to the army, but also to militia and volunteer corps ful- 
filling all the following conditions: 

(i) They must be commanded by a person responsible 
for his subordinates; 

(2) They must have a fixed distinctive sign recognizable 
at a distance; 

(3) They must carry arms openly; and 

(4) They must conduct their operations in accordance 
with the laws and customs of war. 

" The inhabitants of a territory not under occupation, 
who, on the approach of the enemy, spontaneously take 
up arms to resist the invading troops without having had 
time to organize themselves in accordance with Article 1, 
shall be regarded as belligerents, if they carry arms openly 
and if they respect the laws and customs of war. " 

(Articles 1 and 2 of the Regulations of The Hague.) 
76 



Violations of the Laws of War 77 

' ' Family honour and rights, individual life, and private 
property, as well as religious convictions and worship 
must be respected. " 

(Article 46 of the Regulations of The Hague.) 

"Pillage is expressly forbidden.'" 

(Article 47 of the Regulations of The Hague.) 
THE DEEDS OF GERMANY 

I. French Evidence 
No. 27 

MEMORANDUM addressed by the French Gov- 
ernment to the Powers on August 19, 1914. 

According to information which reached the Swiss 
Telegraphic Agency at Berne on the 15th of August, 
1 9 14, a communique from the North German Gazette 
states that: "Because France and Belgium, contrary 
to the law of nations, have organized the civil population 
to take part in the war, Germany has decided to adopt 
the most rigorous measures to put a stop to this, and 
leaves to France and to Belgium all the responsibility 
for the bloodshed which must necessarily follow." 

The Government of the French Republic desires to 
record its protest against this allegation, which is merely 
a pretext adopted for the purpose of justifying the 
atrocities committed by the German troops, by giving 



78 Germany's Violations 

them the appearance of reprisals. From the very out- 
set of the war the Germans have been in the habit of 
burning undefended villages and murdering their 
inhabitants. Numerous proofs of this fact exist in the 
letters and note-books taken from German soldiers 
either killed in action or captured. These irrefutable 
documents will be brought in due course to the knowl- 
edge of the Powers; in the meanwhile the French 
Government confines itself to giving, as an example, 
the following passage, textually reproduced from a note- 
book found upon the body of a German lieutenant: 
"We have burnt the church at Villerupt and shot the 
inhabitants. It was alleged that scouts had taken 
refuge in the church tower and that from there shots 
had been fired at our troops. The fact is, however, 
that it was not the inhabitants of Villerupt who fired 
at us, but certain excise-men and forest-rangers." 

The French Government would, moreover, draw the 
attention of the Powers to the fact that there has been 
no "organization of the civil population to take part 
in the war, " as the lying German communique alleges. 
France has no need of any such organization, inasmuch 
as the whole of her able-bodied male population is 
already bearing arms. 

But if, moved by the desire to defend their hearths 
and homes, those Frenchmen who have not been called 
to the colours should of their own accord take up arms, 
the Government of the Republic would observe that 



Of the Laws of War 79 

such action on their part is entirely lawful, by virtue 
of the terms of Article 2 of the Regulations attached 
to Convention 4 of The Hague, signed and ratified by 
Germany, which reads as follows : 

"The inhabitants of a territory not under occupation, 
who, on the approach of the enemy, spontaneously take 
up arms to resist the invading troops without having had 
time to organize themselves in accordance with Article 1, 
shall be regarded as belligerents, if they carry arms openly 
and if they respect the laws and customs of war. " 

The action of the inhabitants of a country who resist 
the invasion of their territory is therefore justified by 
the terms of the conventions of The Hague, and cannot 
be regarded as affording any pretext for the barbarous 
acts which the Germans have committted. 

No. 28 

DEPOSITION of Madame Dupuis, bookkeeper 
at Rouves (Meurthe-et- Moselle) on the murder of 
her husband. 

August 24, 1914, at 8 a.m. 

The undersigned Cacheux, Commissary of Police of the 
town of Commercy, reports that on the above he took down 
the statement of Madame Dupuis, born Louise Boulanger, 
45 years old, bookkeeper and retail dealer at Rouves, as 

follows : 

The undersigned reports that in the year 19 14, on 
the 24th August at eight o'clock in the morning, he 



80 Germany's Violations 

took down the statement of Mme. Dupuis, born Louise 
Boulanger, 45 years of age, bookkeeper and retail 
dealer at Rouves. 

Madame Dupuis stated: 

On Thursday the 20th August, at ten o'clock in the 
morning, the Prussians having broken into our house 
dragged my husband into the street. An officer of the 
8th Bavarian Regiment, who spoke French correctly, 
advanced towards him, and, without any provocation, 
fired twice at my husband, who fell stone dead. It 
should be stated that on the previous evening this officer 
had come to ask my husband the numbers of the French 
regiments which were then in the region of Nomeny. 
They had threatened to shoot him because he was 
unable to give them this information. 

Immediately after committing this murder, the Ger- 
mans set fire to our house and also burnt those of several 
of our neighbours. 

This statement is confirmed by several other inhabitants 
of the town. 

(Signed) Cacheux. 

Commissary of Police 

Certified correct and signed by the Sub-Prefect, who was 
present when the above declarations were made. 

(Signed) Sous-Prefet. 



Of the Laws of War 81 

No. 29 

EXTRACTS from an official Police Report of the 
burning of the village of Diarupt ( Vosges) . 

On this day, the 28th September, 1914, at seven o'clock, 
we, the undersigned, Paul Vaissiere and Jean Seigne, 
Mounted Police attached to the Provostship of the 66th 
Reserve Division of Infantry, wearing our uniforms and 
acting upon the orders of our superior officers, beg to report 
that in accordance with an order issued by the General 
commanding the 66th Reserve Division, under date 26th 
September, 1914, we proceeded directly to Wisembach 
(Vosges) where, on the same day, the following statements 
were made to us : 

1. Madame Eugene Vendling, born Mathilde Jacquet, 
45 years of age, schoolmistress (at one o'clock) : 

"The day before yesterday, about nine o'clock in 
the morning, that is to say, on September 25, after a 
violent bombardment of the village which had lasted 
several days and had already destroyed the factory of 
the commune where some hundred workmen were 
employed, four houses, and the church, the Germans 
arrived in the village of Diarupt; according to state- 
ments made by the inhabitants, they then set fire to 
seven houses in the village, namely: those of Grevisse 
(Beau-Soleil farm, in the commune) ; Hinderze, Serte- 
let, Noel Quirin, Kubler, Ribiche, and Marchal. The 
majority of the injured inhabitants fled to the neigh- 
bouring villages, with the exception of the Marchal, 



82 Germany's Violations 

Ribiche, and Noel Quirin families, whom the Germans 
carried off with them as prisoners to Sainte-Marie-aux- 
Mines, and released today. 

"On Saturday, August 29, M. Eugene Vendling, 
schoolmaster and mayoral secretary at Wisembach, 
and M. Pierrat, the parish priest, were carried off by 
the Germans and taken with a strong guard towards 
Sainte-Marie-aux- Mines. They had already been 
under arrest the whole of the preceding night, from 
8 in the evening to 5.30 the next morning, at the 
German police-station in the village; why, I know 
not. 

"After the occupation of the village, the Germans 
declared that civilians concealed in the house of Aubert, 
a postman, whose occupants had fled for the moment, 
had fired upon German soldiers. Accordingly on 
Wednesday, August 26th, and Thursday, August 27th, 
they forced my husband and the parish priest to accom- 
pany them into this house ; there they tried to terrorize 
them, with fixed bayonets, insisting, in spite of all 
proofs to the contrary, that civilians had murdered 
their men. My husband and the priest did all they 
could to persuade them that this was not possible, but 
as in spite of everything they persisted in believing, or 
chose to believe, what they had stated, the Germans 
must have declared these two innocent persons suspect, 
and have ordered them to be strictly watched. 

"They put an evil construction on everything they 



Of the Laws of War 83 

did, even their most trivial actions, and even on the 
steps they took to exhort the inhabitants to be calm 
during the occupation of the village, as well as the 
authorized looting of their houses. 

"Three days after the departure of M. Vendling 
and the priest, the Germans returned to the vicarage 
at ten o'clock in the evening to fetch Jean-Baptiste 
Bertone, Joseph Patris, and Eugene Carasol. The 
priest had received the two latter under his roof, as 
their own houses had been burnt. But Carasol had for 
some days past been sleeping at Kubler's shop, which 
he had rented. The Germans declared that these two 
men were making signals to the French from the church 
tower — an absurd statement, as the thing was impos- 
sible. They took these peaceful civilians also off 
towards Sainte-Marie. This happened on Wednesday, 
September 2. 

"In all these arrests the Germans seemed to show 
great animus, and any one who exercised the smallest 
influence at once became suspect to them. This, in 
my opinion, was the reason of the arrest of M. Vendling, 
schoolmaster, and of M. Pierrat, the parish priest. 
Their families hope that the German Government will 
soon order their release, as it has done in the case of 
the village hostages, who have now returned from 
Strasburg, where they saw M. Vendling and our 
priest." 

{Signed) Madame Vendling. 



84 Germany's Violations 

2. Mile. Maria Ribiche, 53 years of age, householder in 
the hamlet of Diarupt (1.30 p.m.) : 

''On the 24th inst. at about eight o'clock in the morn- 
ing, some fifty German soldiers made their appearance 
in the village, which they had evacuated on the pre- 
vious evening. Having entered my house, one of them, 
who spoke French well, said to me, 'You must leave 
your house immediately, for we have been sent here by 
the General to burn seven buildings.' With these 
words they sprinkled petroleum over my linen and set 
fire to it in my presence. I got my cattle out of the 
barn and they were all that I' could save." 

{Signed) Mlle. Ribiche. 

3. M. Jean Marchal, 53 years of age, landed proprietor 
in the village of Diarupt (2 p.m.) : 

"The day before yesterday about fifty German sol- 
diers came to my house, and one of them, who spoke 
French well, said to me, 'We have been sent by the 
General to burn seven houses in this village; therefore 
if you wish to save your linen you had better get it out. ' 
We got out a few things necessary for our use, and 
immediately afterwards they set fire to the rooms with 
straw, which they had previously sprinkled with petro- 
leum. They informed me that they did this because we 
had given lodging to some Chasseurs Alpins, who might 
have fired on them when passing through the forest. 



Of the Laws of War 85 

This is absolutely untrue, for these very Germans had 
occupied my house, and had complete control of it 
for the last fortnight." 

{Signed) Marchal. 

4. M. Hinterze, 62 years of age, landowner in the hamlet 
of Diarupt (2.15 p.m.): 

"On Thursday at eight o'clock twelve Germans came 
to my house and told me they had come to burn it, 
because I had given lodging to some soldiers of the 
Chasseurs Alpins. I tried to tell them that this was not 
true, but they told me to keep silent, pointing their 
revolvers at my breast, and they set fire to the furni- 
ture in my presence. While they were setting fire to the 
neighbouring houses, I was able to save two or three 
sheets, and these are all that I possess. " 

{Signed) Hinterze. 

The owners of the other buildings burnt were not to 
be found ; we were therefore unable to proceed further 
with our inquiry. 

Of the houses which were burnt nothing remains 
but the four walls, the rest being completely destroyed 
and reduced to ashes. 

In testimony of which facts we have drawn up the pre- 
sent report in one copy in conformity with Article 1 1 7 of the 
decree of the 31st July, 191 1, having reference to police 
duties in rural districts. 



86 Germany's Violations 

Done and concluded at Fraize on the day, month, and 
year above mentioned. 

(Signed) Seigne. 
(Signed) Vaissiere. 

B 
Second Report 

September 28, 1914, 10 o'clock. 

We the undersigned, Paul Vaissiere and Jean Seigne, 
Mounted Police of the 66th Reserve Division, wearing our 
uniform, and in compliance with orders from our superior 
officers, report that in completion of Report No. 12 of 
September 26, 19 14, we received yesterday, the 27th inst., 
the following declarations: 

1. M. Jean Sertelet, 67 years of age, landed proprietor 
in the village of Diarupt in the commune of Wisembach 
(Vosges), at eight o'clock: 

"On Thursday morning, the 24th instant, some Ger- 
man soldiers entered my house suddenly and said, ' Get 
out of this immediately.' I asked leave to put on my 
shoes, but they would not give me time to do so; they 
pushed me out, pointing their revolvers at my breast 
and saying, 'If you stir, we'll burn you.' 

"Soon after I had gone out, they went up into a room 
on the first floor where my invalid wife was lying and 
dragged her out of her bed and out of the house without 
giving her time to finish dressing. They then sprinkled 
the rooms with petroleum and set fire to the house, 
beginning in the cellar. 



Of the Laws of War 87 

"We looked on at this sight under threats from them, 
and they then took me with my wife and daughter with 
them for the distance of about a kilometre. As my 
wife could walk no farther, the}'" dragged her along for 
another half-hour or so, and then left her at a farm. 

"They left my daughter, aged 17, with her, and took 
me to Sainte- Marie. 

"When I arrived at this place, I was put into the 
police station and offered some soup and black bread. 
I slept that night on the bare boards, and the next 
day they gave me the safe-conduct you see, enabling 
me to rejoin my family. 

"I have nothing left but the clothes I wear, nor 
have my wife and daughter. ' ' 

{Signed) Sertelet. 

2. Madame Maria Poireau, wife of Sertelet, 61 years of 
age, householder of the same place, at 8.20: 

"On Thursday last, about eight o'clock in the morn- 
ing, some Prussians burst into my bedroom, and in spite 
of my illness and infirmity, they dragged me out of bed 
and out of the house, scarcely giving me time to dress. 
It is true that one of them who spoke French helped me 
to bandage my arm. Scarcely was I outside when my 
house began to burn. The rooms had already been 
sprinkled with petroleum in my presence. 

"I looked on for a short time at the fire, threatened 
by their revolvers, which they pointed at my breast. 



88 Germany's Violations 

Then they carried me off with my husband and daughter 
in the direction of Sainte-Marie. When we began to 
ascend the hill I could go no farther, so they dragged me 
along for a further distance of 2 kilometres, afterwards 
leaving me in a farm with my daughter. We slept 
there, and returned the next day to Wisembach. 

"When they brought me down from my room, my 
husband tried to go back to fetch a perambulator, but 
they thrust him out, pushing him and striking him with 
their fists. In the neighbouring houses they asked for 
petroleum to make these burn faster. 

"When they were taking me towards the hill, I said 
to them repeatedly : ' Kill me, but do not make me suffer 
any more.' " 

{Signed) Madame Sertelet. 

3. Madame Louise Vincent, 55 years of age, wife of 
Grevise, a farmer, of Beau Soleil, village of Diarupt (at 
9-15): 

"On Thursday morning four German soldiers ap- 
peared on the front steps of the farm, with weapons in 
their hands, and addressing my husband said: 'Make 
haste and get out your cattle, we have come to set fire 
to the house. ' At these words, I took one of them by 
the hand, imploring him to spare our house, but he 
replied: 'No, it's the law, and we have come by order 
on purpose to burn it.' They at once fetched hay from 
the barn, strewed it about the rooms and set fire to it, 



Of the Laws of War 89 

after sprinkling it with petroleum they forced me to 
give them. In a short time all the buildings, including 
the dwelling-house, the barn, and the cattle-sheds, were 
in flames, and we were able to save nothing but the 
cattle. 

"They did not take us away, as they had the other 
inhabitants." 

{Signed) Louise Vincent. 

4. Madame Marie Quirin, wife of Noel Quirin, 40 years 
of age, householder of the village of Diarupt (10 o'clock) : 

"On Thursday morning I went to Kubler's house, in 
the village of Diarupt, where my father, my mother, 
and an aunt were living; I carried away my linen, and 
took my cattle with me. As soon as I arrived I saw 
six or seven German soldiers behind the house, who 
ordered us to leave immediately. A moment after 
we saw smoke issuing from the windows, so we asked 
leave to take the cattle out of the barn, which they 
permitted. While the buildings were burning, they 
set out with us in the direction of Sainte-Marie by way 
of the hill. When we arrived there they gave us some 
soup and some black bread, but they did not ill-treat 
us. Nothing is left of our home. " 

{Signed) Marie Quirin. 

5. Madame Delphine Dijon, wife of Quirin, made a 
deposition similar to that of her daughter. 



90 Germany's Violations 

6. Mile. Finance, 19 years of age, householder at 
Wisembach (10.30): 

"On Thursday, about nine o'clock in the morning, 
seeing Madame Quirin's cattle going down the slope 
from the village of Diarupt, I thought they were stray- 
ing, and went to tell her. I met a German soldier, and 
ran away, whereupon he fired at me twice, but did not 
hit me. I ran back to my house in great terror, and a 
few moments later I saw that the houses in the village 
were on fire. ' ' 

{Signed) Marie Finance. 

In testimony whereof we have drawn up the above report, 
sending one copy, as directed by Article 117 of the decree 
of July 31, 1 913, on the duties of the rural police. 

Done and concluded at Fraize, on the day and month 
given above. 

{Signed) Seigne, Vaissiere. 

No. 30 

EXTRACTS from an enquiry into the burning 
and looting of Raon-VEtape {Vosges). 

A 
First Report 

On the 14th October, 1914, I, Emile Jamard, Commissary 
of Police of the town of Raon-1'Etape, attached to the 
judicial branch of the force, assisting the Public Prosecutor, 
in pursuance of our investigation, took down the statement 



Of the Laws of War 91 

of Madame Jeanne Picard, 31 years of age, wife of Luciett 
Michel, merchant, of Rue Beauregard. Her statement is 
as follows : 

"I did not leave Raon-1'Etape during the German 
occupation. 

''There were several German soldiers billeted on my 
parents; amongst these men there was one whose 
special duty it seemed to be to set fire to the houses of 
Raon. It was particularly noticeable that he carried a 
tin box containing some very inflammable substance, 
probably a compound of tow and petroleum. Every 
time that he came back from one of his evil missions, 
he would show me the house which he had just burnt. 

"On several occasions I saw the soldiers removing 
all the contents of various houses, in particular those of 
M. Brajon and M. Martin-Dorget. In this way they 
removed several van loads of household effects. " 

The above having been read to the witness was confirmed 
and signed by her. 

^Signed) Jeanne Michel. 

Jamard. 

Commissary of Police. 

B 
Second Report 

On the 15th October, 19 14, 1, Emile Jamard, Commissary 
of Police of the town of Raon-1'Etape, attached to the 
judicial branch of the force, assisting the Public Prosecutor 



92 Germany's Violations 

in pursuance of our investigation, took down the following 
statement of M. Charles Gimet, 56 years of age, Municipal 
Councillor, residing in the Avenue of the 25th Battalion of 
Chasseurs. His statement is as follows : 



"During the German occupation I remained at 
Raon-1'Etape, where I fulfilled the duties of the Mayor, 
the latter having left the town upon the approach of 
the enemy. 

"On several occasions I noticed a woman, who, to 
judge by her dress, seemed to be of good position, tak- 
ing part with German officers in the looting of houses; 
on one occasion I saw her coming out of the house of 
M. Ferry, the lawyer, with her arms full of clothes and 
other objects. In these foraging expeditions she had 
with her several motor-cars and common carriages. 

"On the day of their arrival at Raon-1'Etape, the 
Germans shot and killed an old man, 75 years of 
age, M. Richard, residing in the Rue Wesval, who was 
looking out of his window at the time. A few days 
afterwards they also killed a retired Customs Officer, 
M. Huck, 55 years of age, residing in the Rue Thiers, 
who was trying to escape them; they threw his body 
into the river." 

The above read to the witness, M. Gimet, who has 
confirmed and signed it. 
(Signed) Gimet. 

Jamard. 

Commissary of Police. 



Of the Laws of War 93 

No. 31 

POLICE REPORT concerning a murder and two 
outrages committed near La Ferte-Gaucher (Seine- 
et-Marne) . 

September 23, 1914, at 10 o'clock. 

We the undersigned, Auguste Francois Guillin, head 
Quartermaster, and Victor Hornard, Police Officer, at the 
station of La Ferte-Gaucher, Seine-et-Marne, wearing our 
uniform, and carrying out the orders of our superior officers 
contained in Note No. 996 of our squadron commander 
dated September 18, 19 14, directing us to make an inquiry 
into the crimes and offences committed by the Germans 
and other soldiers in the commune of La Ferte-Gaucher, 
took down the following depositions : 

I. M. Larieux, vice-mayor of La Ferte-Gaucher and 
acting as mayor in the absence of that official, declares 
as follows: 

"On Sunday the 6th instant, the Germans went to 
the house of M. Q . . . , owner of the Chateau de la 
. . . , Commune of La Ferte-Gaucher, where they 
lunched. In the evening they returned intoxicated; 
they then violated the young woman Y . . . and 
Madame X . . . , agriculturist, who had taken refuge 
at the Chateau. Seeing this, M. Q . . . fired a 
revolver at them, without hitting them, "whereupon 
they immediately shot him dead. 

"I cannot give the details of this scene, as I was my- 
self taken prisoner by the Germans the evening before. " 

{Signed) Larieux. 



94 Germany's Violations 

2. Mile. Y ... of ... , Commune of La Ferte- 
Gaucher, declares as follows: 



"On Sunday the 6th instant, a German officer and 
a military cyclist of the same nationality arrived 
about two o'clock at the Chateau . . . , belonging to 
M. Q . . . , aged 77. They asked M. Q . . .for 
luncheon. He granted their request and received them 
civilly. About an hour later two German cavalry 
soldiers arrived, and then they all left at about 3.30 
p.m. The same day, about seven o'clock, these four 
Germans returned, apparently very drunk, especially 
the officer. They began by firing through the iron 
gate; one of the watch-dogs was hit by a bullet, and 
had to be killed. 

"M. Q. . . . went and opened the gate, and the 
officer asked for dinner for four men, and beds. As 
we had no more bread in the house, we cooked eggs and 
potatoes for them. But as my master refused to put 
them up for the night, they began to fire off their guns 
in the rooms. While I was cooking the dinner the 
Germans forced Madame X . . . , who had taken 
refuge here, to go up into the attic. They stripped her, 
and stole her purse containing thirty francs; then they 
violated her. Seeing this, M. Q . . . fetched a re- 
volver and fired in their direction from the bottom of 
the stairs, but he did not hit them; they immediately 
shot him dead; one bullet went through his head, and 



Of the Laws of War 95 

two or three others into his chest. Greatly terrified, 
I fled to the farm belonging to the Chateau, but the 
officer came after me, saying that if I did not return 
with him he would burn the Chateau and the farm and 
kill all the inhabitants. In terror of my life, I accord- 
ingly followed him, and he made me go to bed with him. 
As to Madame X . . . , the officer handed her over to 
the three soldiers, who took her into a barn, where she 
had to spend the night with them. The next day, 
September 7th, they all left about 8 o'clock." 

(Signed) Y . . . 

3. Madame X . . . , Commune of La Ferte-Gaucher, 
declares : 

"On September 4, 1914, my husband and I left our 
home to flee from the Germans. On the way we met 
a man who was also escaping, and he proposed that we 
should go with him to the farm rented by M. H . . . , 
a tenant of M. Q . . . . This farmer gave us shelter 
for two days, and as my husband came back here on 
Sunday, September 6th, M. Q . . . invited me to take 
my meals with him on that day. I was at his house 
when, about 3 o'clock, two German military cyclists 
arrived, one of them an officer, and demanded luncheon. 
About an hour later two German cavalry soldiers ar- 
rived, and they then all went off together, returning 
in the evening at about 7 o'clock. They began by 
firing through the iron gate, which M. Q . . . went 



96 Germany's Violations 

himself to open. We then noticed that they were drunk, 
especially the officer. They asked for dinner, and the 
maid cooked eggs and potatoes for them. When M. 
Q . . . declined to put them up for the night they 
began to fire their guns in the house to frighten him. 
Much alarmed* I hid on the staircase leading to the 
attic, at the side of the room where they were; they 
found me there, and they made me go up to the attic, 
where they stripped me naked and stole my purse 
containing 30 francs. The officer and two soldiers then 
outraged me, after threatening me with their guns. 
To put an end to this scene, M. Q . . . fired a 
revolver from the bottom of the stairs; the Germans 
then fired upon him and killed him. They then made 
me come down, and the officer again outraged me, as 
well as the maid Y . . . ; then he sent me to spend the 
night in the barn with the three soldiers, while he forced 
the maid Y . . . to go to bed with him. The officer 
aimed his revolver at us several times, and he looked 
about for petroleum to fire the Chateau and the 
farm. They all went off the next morning about 8 
o'clock." 

{Signed) X . . . 

Of all the above we have drawn up three copies for 
despatch, one to the Sous-Prefet of Coulommiers, another 
to the general commanding the 3rd and 4th subdivisions at 
Meaux, and the third to our district commander, in compli- 
ance with Article 298 of the Decree of May 20, 1903. 



Of the Laws of War 97 

Done and concluded at La Ferte-Gaucher, on the day, 
year, and month given above. 

(Signed) Hornard, Guillin. 

No. 32 

POLICE REPORT concerning the murder of a 
young girl of Esternay (Marne) by a German 
soldier. 

February 27, 1915, at 6 p.m. 

We the undersigned, Henri Georges Petiot, Sergeant, and 
Emile Jules-Henri Dunel, Mounted Police probationer, at 
the station of Esternay (Marne), wearing our uniform and 
acting under the orders of our superior officers, in virtue 
of the instructions of the Minister of War transmitted to 
the Public Prosecutor at Epernay, touching an inquiry into 
the crimes and acts of destruction committed by the 
Germans at Epernay, held an inquiry in the Commune of 
Esternay into the circumstances of the death of Mile. 
Marcel Bouche, aged 27, who was shot by a German 
soldier in the night of September 6-7, 19 14. 

We took down the following depositions on the 
subject: 

Madame Mace, widow, born Melanie Nodot, 59 years of 
age, of independent means, living at Esternay (Marne) : 

"During the battle of Esternay, September 6, 1914, 
I had taken refuge in the basement of my house, to- 
gether with Madame Lhomme, the widowed Madame 
Bouche, and her two daughters. 



98 Germany's Violations 

"About 11 p.m., after my house had been already 
occupied for some time by the enemy, three German 
soldiers came down into the basement. There they 
drank or took all they chose, and finally they discovered 
us in a kind of smaller cellar in which we had taken 
refuge. 

"As this inner cellar was very small, measuring only 
about 1 metre 20 cm., Madame Bouche and I, standing 
at the entrance, filled it up entirely. Madame Lhomme 
and Madame Bouche's two daughters were seated 
behind us. 

"One of the soldiers took me by the arm and 
brought me out of the cellar, saying: 'We not 
hurt grandmother'; the other two placed them- 
selves at the entrance of the cellar and ordered 
the other women, in bad French, to take off their 
clothes. Seeing that no one stirred, one of the 
soldiers pointed his gun at the women. Madame 
Bouche, still standing at the entrance, threw up 
the muzzle of the gun with her arm, but the 
soldier then put it under Madame Bouche's arm 
and fired. 

"Madame Lhomme, wounded in the left elbow, and 
Mile. Bouche, wounded in the shoulder, screamed, and 
the soldiers then ran away. The one who was at the 
entrance of the cellar, but who had not fired went 
up last, walking backwards and covering us with his 
revolver. 



Of the Laws of War 99 

"Madame Lhomme's wound has healed; Mile. 
Bouche died on the following day. 

"I do not know to which regiment these soldiers 
belonged." 

Madame Lhomme, born Juliette Rambouillet, 33 years 
of age, householder at Esternay: 

"When the three German soldiers presented them- 
selves at the entrance of the cellar where we had taken 
refuge (Madame Mace, Madame Bouche, her two 
daughters, and myself), they were confronted by Ma- 
dame Mace and Madame Bouche, who were standing 
in the doorway. 

"As Madame Mace was old, one of them took her by 
the arm and led her into the passage; the other two 
placed themselves before us and said: 'Strip yourselves 
naked at once,' but no one moved. The soldier on the 
right then pointed his gun at us; Madame Bouche 
pushed up the muzzle into the air, but the soldier, at 
once bringing it down again, fired. The bullet glanced 
off my left elbow and struck Mile. Bouche on the left 
shoulder. My wound was not serious, but Mile. 
Bouche's was mortal." 

Madame Bouche, widow, born Berthe Arlinson, 46 years 
of age, innkeeper at Esternay: 

"On September 6, 1914, about 11 p.m., three German 
soldiers presented themselves at the entrance of the 



ioo Germany's Violations 

cellar where I had taken refuge with my two daughters, 
Madame Lhomme, and Madame Mace. The latter 
was led away by a soldier. The two other Germans 
then ordered us to strip, but seeing that we did not obey, 
one of them pointed his gun at us. I threw it up with 
my arm, but the soldier immediately put it between my 
arm and my body and fired at the three other women. 
Madame Lhomme and my daughter were struck by the 
same bullet, for they were close one behind the other. 

"Seeing that my daughter was seriously wounded I 
went to the church of Esternay where the German 
ambulance was stationed, and asked for a doctor to 
attend to her. At my entreaties, more than seven 
hours later a German surgeon or hospital orderly came 
and dressed the wound hastily. 

"My daughter died on September 9 at 5 o'clock, 
as the ambulance attendants of the French, who 
had retaken the village, were carrying her on a 
stretcher." 

Madame Louvet, born Gabrielle Bouche, 25 years of 
age, grocer of Esternay, made a deposition similar to that 
of her mother. 

The deceased was Mile. Marcelle Bouche, spinster, aged 
27, innkeeper at Esternay (Marne), born April 22, 1887, at 
the said place, daughter of the late Henri Bouche and 
Berthe Arlinson. Two copies made, one sent to the 
Minister of War, the other to the Police Commandant of 
the district. 

{Signed) Dunel, Petiot. 



Of the Laws of War 101 

II. German Evidence 
No. 33 

PLACARD posted on the walls of Luneville by 
order of the German authorities. 

NOTICE TO THE POPULATION 

On the 25th August, 1914, the inhabitants of Luneville 
made an ambushed attack against German troops and 
trains. On the same day the inhabitants fired on cer- 
tain quarters used by the Medical Staff, over which the 
Red Cross was flying. Moreover, the German wounded 
have been fired on, as well as the Military Hospital, 
which contained a German ambulance. 

On account of these hostile acts, a fine of 650,000 
francs is imposed upon the commune of Luneville. 

The Mayor is ordered to hand over this sum to the 
representative of the German military authorities, in 
gold or in silver, up to an amount of 50,000 francs, by 
9 o'clock on the morning of the 6th September, 1914. 
No protests will be entertained and no delay will be 
allowed. If the commune does not punctually carry 
out the order to pay this sum of 650,000 francs, all 
movable property will be seized. 

In case of non-payment, house-to-house searches will 
take place and the persons of all the inhabitants also 
will be searched. Every one will be shot who deliber- 
ately conceals money, or who endeavours to hide goods 



io2 Germany's Violations 

from seizure by the military authorities, or who at- 
tempts to leave the town. 

The Mayor and the hostages taken by the military 
authorities will be held responsible for strict compliance 
with these orders. 

The Mayor is ordered to notify these instructions to 
the Commune without delay. 

Henamenil, September 3, 1914. 
Von Fasbender, 

General Commanding. 

No. 34 

PLACARD posted on the walls of Reims by order 
of the German authorities. 

PROCLAMATION 

In the event of an engagement taking place today 
or in the near future, either in the vicinity of Reims or 
within the town itself, the inhabitants are warned that 
they must remain absolutely quiet and refrain from 
attempting in any way to take part in the battle. They 
must not attempt to attack either single soldiers or 
detachments of the German army. It is strictly for- 
bidden to erect any barricades or to disturb the pave- 
ments of the streets in such a way as to interfere with 
the going and coming of troops; in a word, nothing 
whatsoever must be done which may be prejudicial in 
any way to the German army. 



Of the Laws of War 103 

In order to assure the security of the troops sufficient- 
ly, and to answer for the quiet behaviour of the popula- 
tion of Reims, the persons hereinafter named have been 
taken as hostages by the officer commanding the Ger- 
man army. On the slightest attempt at disorder these 
hostages will be hanged. In the same way, should any 
violation occur of the instructions above laid down, 
the city will be entirely or partially burnt and its inhabi- 
tants hanged. 

On the other hand, if the city remains absolutely 
quiet and peaceful, the hostages and all the inhabitants 
will be taken under the protection of the German army. 
By Order of the German Authorities. 

Dr. Langlet, 

Mayor. 
Reims, September 12, 191 4. 

LIST OF HOSTAGES 

MESSRS. MESSRS. 

Guernier, Secretary, Labour Ex- Weiland, Assessor, 7 Rue Hon- 
change. zeau-Muiron. 

H. Perot, Assessor at the Muni- Mathieu, Sub-Secretary of the 
cipality. Labour Exchange, Town Hall. 

Ducrot, President of the Co- Bernard Cahen, 90 Rue de Bar- 
operative Society, 15 Rue de batre. 

Sebastopol. Roger, 126 Rue Ponsardin. 

Menu, Secretary of the Syndicate, Dezavenelle, 1 Rue Charlier. 

106 Rue Gambetta. Deragon, 1 Boulevard Carteret. 

P. Jolly, Assessor, 7 Rue Mac- Jean Laurent, Town Hall, 

quart. Coton, 40 Rue des Moulins. 

Thomas, 294 Rue de Cernay. Sacy, 41 Rue de l'Universite. 

Cabey, of the Labour Exchange. Vasseur, 4 Rue Legendre. 



104 Germany's Violations 

LIST OF HOSTAGES— Continued 



MESSRS. 

Taisne, 20 Rue Favart-d'Her- 

bigny. 
Bardet, 30 Rue Charlier. 
Boucher, 51 Rue Boucher-de- 

Perthes. 
Porgeon, 16 Faubourg Ceres. 
Lasseron, North Cemetery. 
Blondiaux, Town Hall. 
Bara, Town Hall. 
Halbutier, Town Hall. 
Martin, 15 Rue Legendre. 
Devingt, 126 Avenue de Laon. 
Nocton, 38 Rue Croutelle. 
Perin, 91 Faubourg Ceres. 
Lucin, Town Hall. 
Baudvin, 27 Rue du Mont- 

d'Arene. 
Urby, 147 Rue Croix St. Marc. 
Delouvin, Rue du Champ-de- 
Mars. 
Davesne, cafe proprietor, 3 Rue 

Bonhomme. 
Baudry, 68 Rue du Mont-d' 

Arene. 
Hagon, 3 Rue Gambetta. 
Bricogne, 5 Rue de l'Arbalete. 
Ruhlmann, 6 Faubourg Ceres. 
Dieudonne, 53 Rue de Mars. 
Vergniolle, 50 Rue de Betheny. 
Debay, 3 Rue Trudaine. 
The Manager of Mauroy's, 30 

Rue de Mars. 
Albert Benoist, 35 Boulevard de 

la Republique. 
Leon Collet, 2 Rue de l'Ecu. 
Vanier, Rue Linguet. 
Drancourt, Rue Ceres. 



MESSRS. 

Raymond, 13 Rue Ceres. 
Duchateaux, 22 Justice. 
Kanengieser, 2 Trois-Raisinets. 
Lorin, 2 Rue Betheny. 
Cahen, 79 Boulevard de la 

Republique. 
Fribourg, Rue du Cadran-Saint- 

Pierre. 
Fournier, 2 Rue de Mars. 
Petremont, 2 Rue Carnot. 
Georges Bonnet, 42 Place d'Er- 

lon. 
Princiaux, 14 Rue St. -Maurice. 
Classen, 38 Rue des Capucins. 
Mulatier, Grand Hdtel, 4 Rue 

Libergier. 
Hennequin, 57 Rue de Thillois. 
Mirguet, 19 Rue Petit-Roland. 
Patoux, 25 Chaussee du Port. 
Soufflet, 21 Avenue de Laon. 
Pannetier, 1 Rue Neufchatel. 
Gardez, 2 Rue de Pouilly. 
Hansen, 21 Rue du Tambour. 
Hermann, 83 Rue de Cernay. 
Hugot, 19 Rue du Bastion. 
Malezieux, 197 Faubourg Ceres. 
Putz, 22 Rue de Mars. 
Hubert-Lacour, 3 Rue Clicquot- 

Blervache. 
Colmart, 9 Place St. Timothee. 
Michel Felix, 28 Rue Petit- 
Roland. 
Henri Abele, 1 Rue. Ecole de 

Medecine. 

Abbe Camus, Rue du Clou-dans- 
le-Fer. 



Of the Laws of War 105 

LIST OF HOSTAGES— Continued 

MESSRS. MESSRS. 

Godefroid, Rue Ceres. Abbe Andrieu, 4 Rue du Preau. 

Albert Poullot, 6 Place Barree. Abbe Fournier, 17 Rue Perin. 

V. Marteau, 49 Rue Jeanne Abbe Debuquois. 

dArc. Abbe Maitrehut, St.-Remi. 

And several others. 

No. 35 

A UTOGRAPH ST A TEMENT of a Westphalian 
prisoner concerning the murder of two women 
and a child shot at Metten {Belgium) by order of 
Major Kastendick and the Reservist, Captain Dill- 
tingen, both of the 57th Regiment of Prussian 
Infantry. 



A 



CAPTAIN BOURDI, Commandant at the For- 
tress of Quiberon-Penthievre, to Lieutenant-Colonel 
Baudry, Commandant of the depot for prisoners of 
war at Belle-Isle. 

Quiberon, February 24, 1915. 
I have the honour to enclose herewith the original with 
a translation, of the statement voluntarily written on 
February 13, 1915, by a German prisoner interned at 
Fort Penthievre. 



106 Germany's Violations 

This deposition describes an act of cruelty committed 
by order of two officers, at Metten, Belgium, on two 
women and a child of about 5 years old. 

The prisoner, X . . . , overcome, no doubt, by re- 
morse, x confessed the deed to his comrades, and it thus 
came indirectly to my knowledge. 

In the absence of the judicial police officer who would 
have taken down the deposition, Interpreter Despres 
went, at my request, to Fort Penthievre, to get con- 
firmation of the rumours that had reached us. In 
conversation with the interpreter, the prisoner X . . . 
related the circumstance above mentioned quite freely, 
and voluntarily wrote the statement I now send you, 
to be used as you may think proper. 

{Signed) Bourdi. 

B 

STATEMENT made by the prisoner X . . . 

Wir brachen in einem Hause ein in Metten da wurde 
aus einem Hause geschossen, wir brachen in dem Hause 
ein und bekamen den Befehl das Haus zu untersuchen, 
aber wir fanden nichts in dem Hause wie 2 Frauen mit 
einem Kind. Es wurde aber von meinen Kameraden 
gesagt das die beiden Frauen geschossen hatten und 

1 The prisoner's name is suppressed in consideration of his remorse. 



Of the Laws of War 107 

wir fanden auch einige Waffen namlich Revolwer. 
Ich habe aber nicht gesehen das die Frauen geschossen 
hatten. Es wurde aber den Frauen gesagt es passierte 
ihr nichts da die Frauen zu sehr weinten. Wir holten 
die Frauen heraus und brachten die Frauen zum Major, 
da erhielten wir den Befehl die Frauen zu erschiessen. 
Der Major hiess Kastendick und gehorte dem 57. 
Infanterie Regiment. Als nun die Mutter tot war be- 
fahl der Major das Kind zu erschiessen weil das Kind 
nicht allein auf der Welt bleiben sollte und das wie die 
Mutter erschossen wurde hielt das Kind die Mutter 
noch bei der Hand so das Kind mit zuriickgezogen 
wurde. Dem Kind wurden auch die Augen zugebunden. 
Ich habe die Wahrheit geschrieben, ich habe selbst das 
mitgemacht weil wir den Befehl vom Major Kastendick 
und vom Reserve Hauptmann Diiltingen bekamen. 

(Unterzeichnet) X . . . 

Soldat 57. Inf. Rgt. zur Zeit Kriegsgefan- 
gener in Fort Penthievre, in Quiberon. 

N.S. Es tat mir sehr leit als ich das sah. Dabei 
standen mir die Tranen in den Augen. 

X . . . 

Penthievre, den 13. Februar, 1915. 
Translation 
We broke into a house at Metter. * Shots had been 

1 Near Verviers, Belgium. 



108 Germany's Violations 

fired from a house. We broke into a house, and we 
were ordered to search the house, but we found nothing 
in the house but two women and a child. But my 
comrades said that the two women had fired, and we 
found some arms too, revolvers. But I did not see 
the women fire. But the women were told nothing 
would be done to them, because they were crying so 
bitterly. We brought the women out and took them 
to the major, and then we were ordered to shoot the 
women. 

The major was called Kastendick and belonged to the 
57th Regiment of Infantry. When the mother was 
dead the major gave the order to shoot the child, so 
that the child should not be left alone in the world, and 
when the mother was shot the child was still holding 
her hand, and as she fell she pulled the child over 
with her. The child's eyes were bandaged. I have 
written the truth. I took part in this, because we were 
ordered to do it by Major Kastendick and Captain 
Diiltingen. 

(Signed) X . . ., 

Private in the 57th Regiment of Infantry, now 
a prisoner at Fort Penthievre, Quiberon. 

P.S. It grieved me very much to see this. I had 
tears in my eyes. 

X . . . 

Penthievre, February 13, 191 5. 



Of the Laws of War 109 

No. 36 

EXTRACT from the note-book of Private Albers, 
of the 78th Regiment of Infantry {Reserve), 10th 
Reserve Corps, describing looting. 

"Am 24. Aug. Truppe ganz verloren. Am 25. Aug. 
wiedergefunden in Berzee. Nachricht dass Belfort 
gef alien ist. Grosser Jubel under den Truppen. 
Singen das Lied Deutschland, Deutschland ilber 
Alles. 

"Mehr Wein als Wasser. Deutsche Soldaten von 
der Bagage plimdern, wo sie konnen. Durchsuchen 
Schranke, Kommoden u.s.w. und werfen alles auf den 
Fussboden. Furchtbar wiist. 

"Aug. 24, lost touch with my company. Aug. 25, 
found them again at Berzee [south of Charleroi]. News 
of the fall of Belfort. Great rejoicing among the 
troops. They sing Deutschland, Deutschland ilber Alles. 

"More wine than water. The German soldiers of 
the baggage-train loot wherever they can. They 
overhaul cupboards, drawers, etc., and throw every- 
thing out on the floor. Terribly wild." 



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Violations of the Laws of War in 
No. 37 

EXTRACT from the note-book of an anonymous 
soldier of the nth Battalion of Light Infantry, nth 
Army Corps, concerning massacres at Leffe and 
Dinant. 

"In Loef, 19 Civilisten erschossen fehlende (flehende) 
Frauen beim Vorgehen nach der Maas. 

"Eben noch 10 Mann erschossen. Da der Konig 
den Befehl ausgegeben hat das Land mit alien Mitteln 
zu verteidigen, ist uns der Befehl ergangen sammtliche 
mannliche Personen zu erschiessen. 

"Nachmittags 2 Uhr rasendes Gewehr-und Kanonen 
und schreckliches schweres Artillerie Feuer an der Maas. 

"In Dinand waren nahezu 100 Mann und noch 
dariiber die auf Haufen gestellt und erschossen worden. 
Ein schrecklicher Sonntag. " 

"At Leffe, nineteen civilians shot. Women begging 
for mercy as we marched towards the Meuse. 

"Ten more men have been shot. The King having 
directed the people to defend the country by all possible 
means, we have received orders to shoot the entire male 
population. 

"At 2 p.m. furious rifle and cannon fire and awful 
heavy artillery fire on the Meuse. 

"At Dinant about 100 men or more were huddled 
together and shot. A horrible Sunday." 




No. 37 




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No. 37 



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No. 38 

EXTRA CT from the note-book of an anonymous 
soldier of the igth Division, Saxon Ersatz, concern- 
ing the murder of a Catholic priest. 

"Samstag den 29. 8. 3 Km. unweit, grosses Gefecht. 
Katholischer Pastor erschossen weil verrat." 

"Saturday, Aug. 29, 3 kilometres off a big fight. 
A Catholic priest shot for treachery." 



114 




No. 38 



115 



No. 39 

EXTRA CT from the note-book of an anonymous 
soldier of the $oth Regiment of Infantry, $th Army 
Corps, concerning the burning and sacking of Ethe 
{Belgium) . 

"In der Nacht stand Ethe vollstandig in Flammen und 
war es von weitem ein herrlicher Anblick. Am anderen 
Morgen (23 August) lag Ethe fast vollstandig in 
Triimmern, und haben wir dort geplundert was dort an 
Lebensmitteln noch zu plundern war. Speck, Eier, 
Brot, eingemachtes Obst, Tabak, Cigarren, Cigaretten, 
und vor alien Dingen Wein haben wir in Hulle und 
Fiille zu unserer Truppe geschleppt." 

"In the night Ethe was entirely in flames, and it was 
a magnificent sight from a distance. The next day, 
August 23, Ethe was almost entirely in ruins, and we 
looted everything that was left in the way of provisions. 
We carried off quantities of bacon, eggs, bread, jam, 
tobacco, cigars, cigarettes, and above all wine, for our 
regiment." 



116 



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No. 39 



117 



No. 40 

EXTRACT from the note-book of an anonymous 
hospital orderly, concerning an act of cruelty to 
prisoners. 

"Am 22. August . . . es kamen 10 Franzosen die 
mussten der Kavallerie im Trab laufen." 

"On August 22 ... 10 Frenchmen came, and they 
were forced to run with the cavalry at a trot." 

No. 41 

EXTRA CT from the note-book of a soldier of the 
2,2d Infantry Regiment, 4th Reserve Corps, de- 
scribing the first two advances of his regiment in 
Belgium. 

"Montag [17. August]. Riistung. Belg. Grenze um 12 

Uhr iiberschritten. Es ist ein Hurra ausgebracht 

worden. Kaum hatten wir die Grenze iiberschritten, 

sind wir im Krieg. Tote Pferde, brennende Dorfer, 

rechts u. links von Chausse kleine Hiigel mit Kreuzen: 

hier liegen Deutsche und Franzosische Kameraden. 

118 



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No. 40 



119 



120 Germany's Violations of the Laws of War 

Wir beziehen in Leylen Massenquartier. Meine (?) 
Bauer schlachten ein Schwein. Rotwein. Kaum hatten 
wir uns hingelegt (auf Spitzboden), so fallen Schiisse. 
Grosse Aufregung. Arn andern Morgen 4 Uhr Ab- 
marsch Richt. Briissel. Wir kommen in Dorfe Betten 
an. Das ganze Dorf brennt. Die ersten toten Zivil- 
listen, der eine die Schadeldecke eingeschlagen, ein 
grasser Anblick. Weiber, Kinder, Greise stehen am 
Ende des Dorfes u. weinen u. halten die Hande in die 
Hohe, ein furchtbarer Augenblick fur mich. Mir 
stehen Trane(n) in Augen. " 

"Monday [August 17]. Call to arms. Cross the 
Belgian frontier at noon. We shout hurrah ! No sooner 
have we crossed the frontier than we find ourselves in 
the thick of war. Dead horses, burning villages, right 
and left of the highway little mounds with crosses; 
German and French lying together. Large bodies of 
us billeted at Leylen. My peasants kill a pig. Red 
wine. Scarcely had we lain down (in a loft) when shots 
were fired. Great excitement. We march at 4 a.m. 
next morning, towards Brussels. We arrive at the 
village of Betten. The whole village is in flames. 
There [we saw] the first dead civilians, one with the 
top of his skull battered in, a horrible sight. Women, 
children, and old men stand at the end of the village 
weeping and holding up their hands, a dreadful moment 
forme. My eyes fill with tears." 
















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No. 41 



No. 42 

EXTRACTS from the note-book of another soldier 
of the $201 Infantry, 4th Reserve Corps, concerning 
murders and looting at Tongres, Creil, etc. 

"19. 8. 14. In Tongers . . . eine Menge Hauser ge- 
plundert von unsrer berittenen Truppe. 

"26.8. Immer noch verbrannte Dorfer. Vor einem 
Dorf ca. 20 erschossenen Civilisten. 

"1.9. Creil. Die Brucke (eiserne) gesprengt; dafiir 
Strassen in Brand gesteckt. Civilisten erschossen." 

"19. 8. 1 4. Tongres ... a large number of houses 
looted by our cavalry. 

"26.8. A lot more villages burnt. In front of one 
of them there were the bodies of about twenty civilians 
who had been shot. 

"1.9. Through Creil. The iron bridge had been 
blown up; for this, whole streets were burned and 
civilians shot." 



122 





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No. 43 

EXTRACT from the note-book of Baum, a soldier 
of the 1820I Regiment of Infantry, concerning 
looting at Novion, Rethel, etc. 

"Sonnabend d. 8.8.14. I2 Uhr 15. Abmarsch, un- 
unterbrochen marschirt bis fruh 7 Uhr anschliessend 
eingreifend in das Gefecht bei Novion. Dauert bis 
nachm. 2 Uhr. Dorf gesturmt und geplundert. 

"Montag. d. 31. 8. 14. 7Uhr. Abmarsch ohne etwas zu 
essen durch die Stadt Rethel, daselbst 2 Std. Rast. 
Wein und Sekt in Hulle und Fulle, ttichtig geplundert. 

"Freitag, 4.9.14. 12 Uhr . . . gekocht und ge- 
bratelt, Wein und Sekt in Hulle und Fulle." 

"Saturday, 8.8.14. Started at 12.15 p.m. Marched 
without a halt till 7 the next morning to take part in 
the fighting at Novion. It lasted till 2 p.m. Village 
stormed and looted. 

"Monday, 31. 8. 14. At 7 marched with nothing to 
eat. We passed through the town of Rethel, where we 
halted for two hours. Wine and champagne in abun- 
dance ; we looted with a will. 

"Friday, 4.9.14. Noon. We cooked, boiling and 

roasting; wine and champagne in abundance. " 

124 









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126 Violations of the Laws of War 

No. 44 

EXTRACT from the note-book of Heinrich Bis sin- 
ger, a soldier in the ist Regiment of Bavarian 
Pioneers, ist Battalion, 2d Company, concerning 
crimes of the German troops at Orchies and 
Valenciennes. 

"25 August. Um 10 Uhr Abmarsch nach Orchies, 
angekommen um 4 Uhr, Durchsuchen der Hauser. 
Samtliche Civil personen werden verhaftet. Eine 
Frau wurde erschossen, weil sie auf ' Halt ' Rufen nicht 
hielt sondern ausreissen wollte. Hierauf Verbrennen 
der ganzen Ortschaft. Um 7 h r Abmarsch von der 
brennenden Ortschaft Orchies nach Valentiennes. . ... 
"26 August. Morgends Abmarsch 9 Uhr nach dem 
Osteingang von Valentiennes, zur Besetzung der Stadt 
um Fluchtlinge einzuhalten. Alle mannlichen Personen 
von 18-48 werden verhaftet und nach Deutschland 
befordert." 

"25 August. About 10 marched to Orchies, arrived 
there about 4. Houses searched. All civilians taken 
prisoners. A woman was shot, because she did not 

1 Photographic reproductions of this note-book have already been 
published, when certain persons ventured to question its authenticity 
on the ground that the use of the letter h (Um jh. Abmarsch, etc.) was 
not German. To reduce this observation to its true value it is only 
necessary to consult Sachs- Villate's dictionary under the letter H, 
where we read: "h. used to denote time = Latin hora, as, for instance, 
9 h. 11' = 11 minutes past 9." 



» ' 



127 



No. 44 



128 Violations of the Laws of War 

halt at the word of command, but tried to run away. 
Hereupon the whole place was set on fire . At 7 o ' clock we 
left Orchies in flames and marched towards Valenciennes. 
"26 August. Marched off at 9 a.m. towards the 
eastern entrance of Valenciennes to occupy the town 
and keep back fugitives. All the male inhabitants from 
18 to 48 were arrested and sent to Germany." 

No. 45 

EXTRA CT from the note-book of Horst Braener, 
a soldier of the 134/& Regiment of Infantry, 10th 
Saxons, 19th Army Corps, concerning the looting 
and burning of several villages round Namur. 

"[25 Aug.] Das Dorf Hargnies soil der feindselige 
Einwohner wegen abgebrannt werden. 

"Viele Flaschen Wein sind gefunden worden und 
auch etwas davon wurde an die Mannschaften verteilt. 

"26 Aug. In Namur in Biewak geblieben. Viele 
Gefangene wurden heute gebracht. Das Dorf ist 
vollstandig ausgepliindert, nur einige kleine Hauschen, 
in denen alte Leute wohnen, wurden verschont. Vieles 
ist unnotigerweise zerstort worden. In den Wohnungen 
sieht es grauenhaft aus. Alles durchstobert und zer- 
stort." 

"[Aug. 25.] The village of Hargnies is to be burnt 
on account of the hostile inhabitants. 




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No. 45 



129 



130 Violations of the Laws of War 

"A great many bottles of wine were found, and some 
of these were distributed among the men. 

"Aug. 26. Stayed to bivouac at Namur. Many 
prisoners brought in today. The village has been 
thoroughly plundered, only a few small hovels in which 
some old people live were spared. A great deal was 
wantonly destroyed. The houses are a terrible sight. 
Everything ransacked and smashed." 

No. 46 

EXTRA CT from a letter written by Erwin Brasch, 
of the 1st Regiment of Light Horse, a prisoner, con- 
cerning the crimes he witnessed. 

"Das Gehoft geht zur Strafe in Flammen auf, und 
dieses schlimme Geschick hat so manches Dorf — - 
bluhende, reiche Dorfer — ereilen sollen. Zur Strafe 
musste uberhaupt viel Ungliick fur die Bevolkerung 
anbefohlen werden, manchmal auch zu Unrecht und es 
ist leider wahr, dass die schlechten Elemente sich fast 
zu alien Schandtaten autorisiert fuhlten. Diesen[read 
Dieser] Vorwurf trifft hauptsachtlich die Bagage, und 
den Train, wo die untiichtigen Elemente, die nicht 
fur die Front verwendet werden, zusammenkommen. 
Diese rasten den ganzen Tag liber in den Ortschaften, 
wo sie denn die Weinkeller oft plundern, die von den 
sich furchtenden Einwohnern verlassenen Hauser auf- 
brechen, alles zerstoren und besudeln dass wirklich 



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No. 46 



131 



132 Germany's Violations 

einem jeden rechtlich denkenden ein Abscheu vor dem 
Ungluck des Krieges packen muss. Die wohl in den 
meisten Fallen erdichteten oder iibertriebenen Berichte 
von abgehackten Kinderhanden und vergewaltigten 
Frauen beruhren naturlich die Armee uberhaupt nicht, 
sondern falls wirklich etwas wahr ist, nur ein paar 
Verbrecher." 

"As a punishment the farm was burnt, and this sad 
fate must have overtaken many rich and flourishing 
villages. In a general way it was necessary to order 
many punishments that were disastrous for the popula- 
tion, sometimes indeed unjustly, and it is, unhappily, true 
that the evil elements felt authorized to commit nearly 
every kind of misdeed. This reproach applies more 
particularly to the men in charge of the baggage and 
ammunition trains, who are for the most part worthless 
stuff, not fit for the front. These men spend whole days 
of idleness in places, where they often loot the cellars, 
break into the houses which the terrified inhabitants 
have abandoned, destroy and befoul everything, so 
that every right-thinking person must be filled with 
horror at the misery of war. The stories, invented or 
exaggerated in most cases, of children whose hands 
have been cut off and outraged women, are not, of 
course, a general indictment of our army; when 
there is some truth in them, they apply only to a few 
criminals." 



Of the Laws of War 133 

No. 47 

EXTRACTS from the note-book of Non-com- 
missioned Officer Burkhardt, of the 1st Company 
of the 100th Regiment Grenadiers, Reserve. 

" Bei dem grossen Transport waren auch 2 Pfaffen in weis- 
sen Mantel mit den Handen gebunden. Sie hatten auch 
auf uns geschossen. Ich werde sie nieht vergessen, wie 
sie unter den Last der deutschen Tornister schwitzten. 
"Bei einem Traindepot, das von einem Zahlmeister 
und 2 Mann bewacht wird, fassen wir Konserven. Lt. 
Otto lasst noch einige Leute zur Bedeckung zuriick. 
Wir unterziehen den Weinkeller einer Revision und 
finden allerlei gute Sachen. Die wunderbaren Raume 
des Schlosses sehen grauenhaft aus. Man hat nach 
Gold und Silber gesucht, und alles durcheinander 
geworfen. Der Weitermarsch ist nach der reichlich 
genossenen Alkoholizis sehr sauer. Ich habe zudem eine 
Steinbulle Chatreuse [sic] im Tornister." 

August 25. 

"In the great convoy there were also two priests, 
clad in white cloaks, their hands tied. They had fired 
on our troops. I shall never forget how they perspired 
under the weight of the German knapsacks. 

Near Rumigny- Ardennes. 
"From a train-dep6t, guarded by a paymaster and 
two men, we got some tinned food. Lieut. Otto left a 




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No. 47 



Violations of the Laws of War 135 

few men behind to cover us. We revisited the cellars 
and found all sorts of good things. The splendid rooms 
of the chateau are a terrible sight. Everything turned 
upside down in the hunt for gold and silver. It is very 
hard to have to march again after drinking one's fill. 
I brought away a stone bottle of Chartreuse too in my 
knapsack." 

No. 48 

EXTRA CTS from the note-book of Private Bntt- 
ner of the 100th Grenadiers, 12th Army Corps. 

"Montag. 24.8.14. Nachmittag sind wir nach Gem- 
mingen marschirt % Stde weit. Schnell geraubert. . . . 
"Mittwoch, 26.8.14. ( We g nacn Dinant.) Urn 4 
fruh weitergefahren nach Dinant, uber die Maas 
marschirt auf Pontonbriicke (6° v). Alles zerstort und 
gepliindert." 

"Monday, 24. 8. 14. In the afternoon we advanced 
on Gemmingen, quarter of an hour from here. There 
we looted in all haste. 

"Wednesday, 26. 8. 14. (On the road towards Di- 
nant.) Went on at 4 a.m. to Dinant ; crossed the Meuse 
on a pontoon-bridge (at six o'clock). Everything was 
destroyed and looted." 









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136 



No. 49 

EXTRACT from the note-book of Erich Dressier, 
of the 2>d Company of the 100th Regiment of 
Grenadiers (ist Saxon Corps). 

25 Aug. "Die Belgier haben in Dinant an der Maas 
auf unser Regt geschossen aus den Hausern. Es wurde 
erschossen was sich sehen liess bz. aus den Hausern 
gesturzt, ob Weib oder Mann. Die Leichen lagen mtr. 
hoch auf den Strassen. Abends Uebernachtung der 
Gefangenen." 

August 25. "The Belgians at Dinant on the Meuse 
fired on our regiment from the houses. All those who 
showed themselves or who were thrown out of the 
houses were shot, whether men or women. Corpses 
were lying in the streets, piled up a yard high. In the 
evening guarding prisoners for the night." 



137 




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No. 50 

EXTRA CT from the note-book of Private Fritz 
Ehrhardt, of the 1 joth Regiment of Infantry, con- 
cerning the burning of Sainte-Barbe ( Vosges) . 

"Mittwoch, 26. August. Von 9 Uhr ab starkes In- 
fanterie und Artillerie Gefecht. In Brandstecken des 
Dorfes Ste.-Barbe weil abends zuvor daraus geschossen 
wurde. Schauerlicher Anblick." 

"Wednesday, August 26. Prom 9 o'clock onwards, 
severe fighting, artillery and infantry. The village of 
Sainte-Barbe has been set on fire because, on the pre- 
vious evening, there had been some shooting from this 
quarter. A horrible sight." 



139 




No. 50 



140 



No. 51 

EXTRACT from the note-book of Lieutenant 
Elster, of the yyth Regiment of Infantry, Reserve, 
concerning the burning of Ottignie {Belgium), 
in which he stigmatizes certain German corps. 

Donnerstag, den 20 Aug. 1914. Vays. 

"Marsch liber Ottignie auf Vays. In Ott. Rast. 
Schwein requiriert. Im Orte Ulanenpatrouille getotet 
mit 1. Offz. Der Ort nach unserem Durchmarsch in 
Brand gesteckt. Standgericht. Leute immer nett 
wenn man selber hoflich auftritt. Quartier bei einem 
Hofbesitzer. Bei unserer Komp. ein anstandiger Ton 
im Gegensatz zu anderen. Schlimm sind die Pioniere, 
eine Rauberbande die Artilleristen." 

Thursday, Aug. 20, 1914. Vays. 

"We march upon Vays through Ottignie. Halt at 

Ottignie. Requisition a pig. In this place a patrol of 

Uhlans with an officer killed. Place burnt after we had 

gone through. Court martial. The people always civil 

if one behaves properly to them. Billet at a farm. In 

our company the tone is good, a contrast to some others. 

The engineers are bad enough, the Artillery a band of 

robbers." 

141 




No. 51 



142 



No. 52 

EXTRA CT from the note-book of Non-commis- 
sioned Officer Fritz Gehrmann, of the 88th Regi- 
ment of Infantry, 18th Army Corps. 

"22. Aug. Des Abends grosses Wehklagen auf beiden 
Seiten. O der Krieg ist schrecklich. Dorfer in Brand, 
alles ausgeraubt, Wein, Speck, Schinken, Brot, Zigarren 
u. s. w. Gefecht im Walde. 

"24. Aug. Der Aufbruch beginnt immer bei Tages- 
anbruch, meistens nach 1-4 Std. Ruhezeit unter dem 
freien Himmel. Mittags Einquartierung im Dorf. 
Alles lebendig Essbare wird gemordet. Die Bewohner 
sind gefluchtet. Alles wird gepltindert. Es sieht 
rauberhaft aus. 

"25. Aug. Vom 24 auf 25 Wachthaben in der Kirche 
zu N. 5 franz. Gefangene, darunter 2 Offiz. Das Regi- 
ment hatte nach langen, schweren Tagen einen Ruhe- 
tag in Biirgerquartieren. Die Bewohner sind samtlich 
gefluchtet. Von oben his unten wird alles ausgeraumt, 
nichts bleibt unversehrt. Ein wahres Rauberleben, 
Hiihner, Enten, Ganse, Kaninchen werden verzehrt. 

Es sieht geradezu rauberhaft aus." 

143 



144 Germany's Violations 

"Aug. 22. In the evening, loud cries of pain from 
both sides. Oh! war is horrible! Villages blazing, 



No. 52 

everything plundered, wine, bacon, ham, bread, cigars, 
etc. Fighting in the forest. 

"Aug. 24. We always march at break of day, 
generally after from one to four hours of rest in the open 
air. In the middle of the day we camp in a village. 



Of the Laws of War 145 

Every living edible .thing is slaughtered. The inhabi- 

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tants have fled. Everything is pillaged. It looks like 
the work of robbers. 

"Aug. 25. From the 24th to the 25th, mounted 



146 Violations of the Laws of War 

guard in the church at N. Five French prisoners, 
among them two officers. The regiment got a day's 
rest in billets after many long, strenuous days. All the 
inhabitants have fled. From top to bottom, everything 
has been looted and nothing remains intact. A regular 
brigand's life, this. We devour chickens, ducks, geese 
and rabbits. It certainly looks like the work of 
robbers." 



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No. 52 



No. 53 

EXTRACT from the note-book of Private Richard 
Gerhold, of the 74th Regiment of Infantry {Re- 
serve), \th Reserve Corps, describing the ill-treat- 
ment of the Belgian population. 

"Erinnere mich und sehe den Augenblick immer zu. 
Das ganze Dorf in Flammen. Fenster und Tiiren 
eingeschlagen. Alles leigt auf der Strasse herum bis auf 
ein Hauschen, vor dessen Tiir eine arme Frau mit 6 
Kindern steht, die Hande hoch uns urn Schonung 
bittend, so geht es Tag fur Tag." 

"I remember and see the moment [of the entry into 
Belgium] always before me. The whole village was in 
flames, doors and windows shattered. Everything 
lying on the ground in the street, save one little house; 
before the door stood a poor woman with six children, 
holding up her hands to implore mercy. And day after 
day it is the same thing." 



148 










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No. 53 



149 



No. 54 

EXTRACT from a note-book probably written 
{according to Private Paul Glode, 76th Infantry 
Regiment, a prisoner at Casablanca, Morocco) 
by Lance- Corporal Dannehl, gth Battalion of 
Engineers, gih Army Corps, describing the acts 
of the German troops in Belgium. 

"12. 8. 14. Von der Wut der Soldaten kann man sich 
ein Bild machen, wenn man die zerstorten Dorfer sieht. 
Kein Haus ist mehr ganz. Alles essbare wird von 
einzelnen Soldaten requiriert. Mehrere Haufen Men- 
schen sah man, die standrechtlich erschossen wurden. 
Kleine Schweinchen liefen umher und suchten ihre 
Mutter. Hunde lagen an der Kette und hatten 
nichts zu fressen und zu saufen und uber ihnen 
brannten die Hauser. 

"Neben der gerechten Wut der Soldaten schreitet 
aber auch purer Vandalismus. In ganz leeren Dorfer 
setzen sie den roten Hahn ganz willkurlich auf die Hau- 
ser. Mir tun die Leute leit. Wenn sie auch unfaire 
Waffen gebrauchen, so verteidigen sie doch nur ihr 

Vaterland. Die Grausamkeiten die veriibt wurden 

150 






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151 



152 Violations of the Laws of War 

und noch werden von seiten der Burger werden wust 
geracht. 

"Verstummelungen der Verwundeten sind an 
Tagesordnung." 

"When one sees the ravaged villages one can form 
some idea of the fury of our soldiers. There is not a 
house intact. Everything eatable is requisitioned by 
individual soldiers. Dead people were lying in heaps, 
shot after trial by martial law. Little pigs were run- 
ning about looking for their mothers, dogs were left 
chained up with nothing to eat or drink, and the houses 
were burning above them. 

"Together with the righteous anger of our troops, a 
spirit of pure vandalism, exists. In villages which are 
already completely deserted they set fire to the houses 
just as the spirit moves them. My heart grieves for 
the inhabitants. It may be that they make use of 
treacherous weapons, but if so, after all, they are only 
defending their country. The atrocities which these 
townspeople have committed, or are still committing, 
are avenged in a cruel manner. 

"Mutilation of the wounded is the order of the day." 



No. 55 

EXTRA CT from the diary of Non-commissioned 
Officer, Erich Harlach, of the 38th Regiment of 
Fusiliers (Silesians) 6th Army Corps, describing 
and condemning the excesses committed by the 
Prussian troops. 

Pages 25-6. . . . "Bier wurde Kastenweise ange- 

schleppt, gegen eine Quittung, die sicherlich gar nichts 

wert ist. Man konnte leider gar bald sehen, wie die 

bete humaine in manchen Soldaten erwachte, man 

konnte gar bald die Beobachtung machen, ob die Kul- 

tur nur ausserlich anpoliert war, oder tief sass. Die 

Spitzbubenelemente stahlen, was sie bekommen konn- 

ten, Enten, Hiirmer, etc. Leider wurden sie oft durch 

falsch unterrichtete oder ahnlieh veranlagte Unter- 

offiziere angefeuert. Wie Wilde durchsuchten sie die 

Hauser nach Waffen ohne Unterschied des Standes. 

La guerre est terrible namentlich fur solche die an 

Aesthetik u. Ethik gewohnt sind. . . . 

Page 30. . . . "Als ich auf dieses Haus zuging, 

ertonte plotzlich ein grosses Geknatter wie von Schiis- 

153 



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155 



156 Germany's Violations 

sen. Die Leute stoben aus dem Keller, ich glaubte 
wir seien in einem Hinterhalt geraten, der tins nun I 
wilden Strassenkampf bringen wurde. Es stellte sich 
aber heraus, dass die Leute einen Stapel von Tausenden 
von Flaschen umgestossen hatten u. nun donnerten 
sie alle durcheina(n)der. Dann gingen die Leute u. 
holten massenhaft heraus. Ich liess mir eine u. eine 
Rotweinflasche geben. Fast die ganzen Leute waren 
angekneipt u. drangen in die Privathauser u. pliinderten. 
Es ist erlaubt Essbares u. solches, was man augenblick- 
lich gebraucht, mitzunehmen; viele aber u. namentlich 
die mit der Bagage zogen, stahlen Uhren, Wertsachen, 
etc. Das ist scheusslich, namentlich gehen sie dabei 
derartig stuss vor, dass sie das, was sie nicht mitnehmen 
konnen, zu Boden werfen u. zerstampfen. 

Page 33. ... " Ich sah nur das Schloss an u. erblickte 
wie unsere Kavallerie hier gepliindert hatte. Noch 
am Tage vorher waren die Franzosen hier in Quartier 
gewesen u. hatten hier gegessen. Jetzt ein Bild der Ver- 
wiistung. Alle Schranke u. Behaltnisse aufgebrochen, 
die Kleider umhergestreut. Dass naturlich sehr vieles 
gepliindert wurde, namentlich von der Kavallerie, die 
zuerst hinkommt, will ich noch hingehen lassen, aber 
dass grosse Spiegel zerschlagen, wertvolle antike Mobel 
heruntergebrochen werden ist gemein. Tiere liefen 
hungrig umher. Huhner, Enten, Schweine alles wurde 
mitgenommen. La guerre est la guerre. Wie ich es 
aus den Brief bon Haus ersehe, denken sie sich den 



Of the Laws of War 157 

Krieg noch viel zu human. Es gibt keine Riicksicht, 
keine Aesthetik, kein Gefuhl, alles abgestumpft. 

Page 37. . . . "Die Leute plundern furchtbar, alles 
wird in den Hausern durchwiilht, oft zerstort. Hiihner, 
Enten, Kanincben wird der Hals umgedrecht u. im 
stillen . . . [illegible] gebraten. Kleine Schmuck- 
sachen gehen auch mit. Samtliche Rechtsnormen 
sind aufgelost. Jedenfalls schaden wir sehr unserem 
Rufe." 

Pages 25-26. . . . "Beer was brought along in cases 
in exchange for a receipt which is certainly worthless. 
Alas! How quickly one sees the bete humaine [sic] 
revealing itself in many a soldier ; it was not long before 
we could tell whether our ' Kultur ' was a mere surface 
varnish or something more deeply rooted. The 
scoundrelly element stole everything that they could 
lay their hands on: ducks, chickens, etc. Unfortu- 
nately, they were often encouraged to do so by non- 
commissioned officers, acting either in ignorance or 
because they were similarly inclined. They ransacked 
the houses like utter savages, looking for arms, without 
the least regard for social rank. La guerre est terrible 
[sic] especially fcr anyone who is accustomed to look 
at things from the aesthetic and moral points of view. 

Page 30. . . . "As I was going towards this house, 
I suddenly heard a tremendous noise, like a volley. The 
men rushed out of the cellar; I thought we had fallen 



158 Germany's Violations 

into an ambush which would lead to furious street- 
fighting, but it seemed that the men had knocked over 
a pile of thousands of bottles, and they were all crashing 
down. Then the men went away and came back carry- 
ing a great number of bottles. I got them to give me 
one and a bottle of red wine. Nearly all the men 
were drunk, entering the private houses and looting 
them. 

"It is lawful to take possession of eatables for imme- 
diate use, but many of our men, especially those in 
charge of the baggage transport, stole watches and 
other valuables. This is abominable, and the more so 
as they loot so wantonly that what they cannot carry 
away, they trample under foot and destroy. . . . 

Page 33. . . . "I visited the castle and saw how our 
cavalry had plundered it. The night before, French 
troops had been quartered there and had dined. Now 
the whole place was the abomination of desolation. All 
cupboards and chests were broken open and the clothes 
strewn about. That a lot of plundering was done as a 
matter of course, especially by the cavalry who arrive 
first seems to me excusable to some extent, but to 
smash great mirrors and break up valuable old furni- 
ture is absolutely low. Hungry animals were wander- 
ing about. . . . Chickens, ducks, pigs, all were carried 
away. ... La guerre est la guerre [sic]. 

"Judging by a letter received from home, our folks 
have an idea that war is a much more humane business 



Of the Laws of War 159 

than it really is. There is no longer any consideration, 
any sentimental or aesthetic feeling: all moral sense 
is deadened. 

Page 37. "The men loot dreadfully; everything 
in the houses is turned upside down and often destroyed. 
Not even small personal ornaments escape. All rights 
of property are abolished; we are doing infinite injury 
to our reputation." 1 

No. 56 

EXTRA CT from the note-book of Private Has- 
semer of the 8th Army Corps, describing a massacre 
of French soldiers and civilians at Sommepy 
(Marne). 

September 3. . . . "Ein schreckliches Blutbad. Dorf 
abgebrannt, die Franzosen in die brennenden Hauser 
geworfen, Zivilpersonen alles mitverbrannt." 

September 3. . . . " A horrible bath of blood. The 
whole village burnt, the French thrown into the blazing 
houses, civilians burnt with the rest." 

1 This diary, which expresses the noblest sentiments throughout, is 
in the form of a letter addressed to the writer's parents. 



Les bandes CONTINENTAL" chev-> 
ronnees, creees par CONTINENTAL" 
ont ete adoptees sur les autobus de fa 

Ville de Paris par la C. G, O. 

^^ 

No. 56 



160 



No. 57 

EXTRACT from the note-book of Ensign Baron 
von Hodenberg, of the 100th Regiment of Grena- 
diers, 12 th Army Corps, condemning the conduct 
of the German troops. 

"Rethel, am 2. Sept. Leider lasst die Disciplin mehr 
und mehr nach. Schnaps, Wein, n. Pliindern sind an 
der Tagesordnung. Eine Schuld der Inftr. Nament- 
lich die Kolonnen sind schlimm." 

"Rethel, September 2. Unhappily discipline be- 
comes more and more lax. Spirits, wine, and plunder 
are the order of the day. It is the fault of the superior 
Infantry. The transport troops are the worst of all." 



161 




No. 57 



162 



No. 5 8 

EXTRACT from the note-book of Private Hohl 
(gth Army Corps ?) describing the burning of a 
Belgian village and the murder of thirty-five 
civilians. 

24 August. "Ausserhalb des Dorfes bezog unsere 
Comp. Vorposten. Wir machten uns ein Lager bon 
Stroh zurecht und schliefen feldmarschmassig, wegen 
der Nahe des Feindes, unter freien Himmel. Schaurig 
rot farbte sich der Himmel uber dem Dorfe, lodernde 
Flammen zeugten. von deutscher Heldentat. C'est 
la guerre! 

25 August. "Unterwegs kommen wir durch Vresse; 
vor dem Dorfe liegen etwa 35 Zilivisten unter Fuhrung 
des Pastors. Diese uberfielen in der Nacht deutsche 
Truppen. Der Pastor gab das Zeichen mit der Kir- 
chenglocke und so miissen sie auf Befehl nieder- 
geschossen werden." 

August 24. "Our company occupied some outposts 
outside the village. We made a resting-place with 

163 




No. 58 



164 



Violations of the Laws of War 165 

bundles of straw, and slept in the open air on the qui 
vive, because of the proximity of the enemy. Above 
the village the sky was dyed a dreadful red, and danc- 
ing flames bore witness to a deed of German heroism! 
Cest la guerre ! 

August 25. "On the march we passed through 
Vresse. Thirty -five dead civilians are still lying out- 
side the village. They had attacked German soldiers 
at night, led by the parish priest. This priest gave 
the signal by ringing the church-bell, and this was why 
the order was given to shoot them down." 



No. 59 

EXTRACT from the note-book of Lieutenant von 
Jonquieres, of the 2>d Regiment of Grenadier 
Guards, describing the burning of the village of 
Fosse {Belgium) and the distribution of the money 
looted there to the soldiers. 

"Ich als rechte Seitendeckung mit meinem Zuge 
vorgegangen ins Dorf. Aus Gehoft Feuer, dann an- 
gesteckt, zusammen mit Mey. Als Bataillon im Dorf, 
von Feuer iiberschuttet. Ganze Dorf angesteckt. 
7 Komp. erbeutet 2000 francs." 

"Advanced with my section into the village, as flank- 
ing cover on the right. Some shots were fired from a 
farm, so it was burnt, with Mey. . . . When the 
battalion entered the village, there was a hail of bullets, 
so we burnt the whole village, and the 7th Company 
got 2000 francs of booty." 



166 



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167 



168 Violations of the Laws of War 

No. 60 

EXTRACT from the note-book of Adjutant G. J. 
Kohler, of the 13th Battalion of Light Horse 
(Reserve), 12 th Corps, recording arson and 
murder in Belgium. 

"19 August 19 14. Unsere Proviantkolonne (Erezee) 
wird angebl. angeschossen. Binnen wenigen Augen- 
blicken stent Birisceau (?) (ein liebl. gelegenes Dorf) in 
Flammen. Kind und alte Frau wird angeschossen. 
(Vier sind lebendig auf Protzen, two lines, partly erased 
and partly illegible.) Verwundeter Belgier wird halb 
tot weitergetragen. Alles ekelhaft und scheuslich. 
Von Erezee, wo wir liegen, sieht man im Tale die bren- 
nenden Hauser. Es ist ekelhaft. 

".'... Nordlich von unserer Marschrichtung traf 
man wieder ein grosses Dorf eingeaschert." 

"August 19, 1914. It is said that our Commis- 
sariat section was fired upon (Erezee). In a few 
minutes Birisceau (?), a charmingly situated village, 
was in flames. A child and an old woman were shot. 

... A wounded Belgian was carried away half dead. 
The whole business was revolting and horrible. From 
Erezee, where we are bivouacking, we see the burning 
houses in the valley. 

"... To the north of our route we passed another 
large village reduced to ashes." 



'•>■'.• 



No. 60 



169 



No. 61 

EXTRA CT from the note-book of Non-commis- 
sioned Officer Reinhold Koehn, of _ the 2d Bat- 
talion of Engineers, $d Army Corps, recording 
the sack of Vise {Belgium). 

"In der Nacht vom 15-16. 8./schlug der Pion. Gr. in 

der Stadt Visee Alarm. Es wird alles erschossen, 
gefangen genommen und die Hauser niedergebr. 
Gefangene miissen Schritt fahren." 

"During the night of August 15-16, Engineer Gr. . . . 
gave the alarm in the town of Vise. Everyone was shot 
or taken prisoner, and the houses were burnt. The 
prisoners were made to march and keep up with the 
troops." 



170 



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171 



No. 62 

EXTRACT from the note-book of Private Fritz 
Krain, of the \th Battalion of Light Horse {Re- 
serve), \th Reserve Corps, concerning the murder 
of a young girl. 

"Vier Flaschen Wein mit in Dachs mitgenommen. 
Das erste Quartier in Frankreich. Hoffendlich bald 
Gefecht. Bei Wasser holen ein Madchen mit Revolver 
entgegen. Tot gesehlagen. Revolver abgenommen." 

"Carried off four bottles of wine in my bag. Our 
first bivouac in France. There will soon be a battle, 
I hope. When we went to fetch water we encountered 
a girl with a revolver. Shot her dead and took her 
revolver." 



172 



No. 62 



173 



No. 63 

EXTRACT from the note-book of Private Langer- 
haus of the y/th Regiment of Infantry, 10th Army 
Corps, recording the murder of Belgian civilians. 

"In Kirche 300 Gef. Belg. Stud-jur. mit andere Belgier 
werden erschossen." 

"Three hundred Belgian prisoners in the church. 
Law-students and other Belgians were shot." 



174 





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175 



No. 64 

EXTRACT from the note-book of non-commis- 
sioned officer Leviih {or Levick), of the 2>d Com- 
pany of the 160th Regiment of Infantry, 8th Army 
Corps, recording the looting and burning of 
Bievre. 

23 August. "Der Feind hatte das Dorf Bievre besetzt 
und den Waldrand dahiner. Die 3. Kompagnie ging 
in 1 . Linie vor. Wir stiirmten das Dorf und plunderten 
und brannten fast samtliche Hauser nieder." 

August 23. "The enemy had occupied the village 
of Bievre and the outskirts of the wood behind it. The 
3d Company advanced in the first line. We stormed 
the village and plundered and burnt nearly all the 
houses." 



176 



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177 



No. 65 

EXTRACT from the note-book of Private Menge, 
of the y^th Regiment of Infantry {Reserve), 10th 
Reserve Corps, recording the hanging of a Belgian 
priest and his sister. 

Sonnabend d. 15. Aug. "Marsch von Elsenborn. Wir 
passieren unter dreimaligen Hurra auf unsern Kaiser 
und unter den Klangen d. Liedes Deutschland iiber alles 
die belgische Grenze. Alle Baume umgefallt als Sperre. 
Pfarrer u. dessen Schwester aufgehangt. Hauser 
abgebrannt." 

Saturday, August 15. "Marched from Elsenborn. 
Giving three cheers for our Emperor and singing Deutsch- 
land iiber Alles, we crossed the Belgian frontier. All 
trees cut down to serve as barricades. A parish priest 
and his sister hanged. Houses burnt." 



178 



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No. 65 
179 



No. 66 

EXTRACT from the note-book of the stretcher- 
bearer Joseph Ott, 33d Division, 16th Army 
Corps, describing the looting of a village by per- 
mission of officers. 

"Die Leichen der erschossenen Franzosen harren noch 









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ihres Grabes, aber alles hat Kopf- und Brustschuss. 
Wir erhielten auch die Erlaubnis zum pliindern, was 

man sich nicht zweimal sagen Hess. Ganze Ballen mit 

180 



Violations of the Laws of War 181 

Tuch, Wein in Flaschen und Fassern, Hiihner und 
Schweine wurden mitgenommen. Urn i° gabs das 
Mittagessen und in Gesellschaft toter Franzosen wurde 
es eingenommen. Man gewohnt sich nun an alles." 

"The corpses of the Frenchmen still wait for burial, 
but they all got a bullet in the head or the breast. 
Leave was given us to loot, and we did not need to be 
told twice. Bales of cloth, wine in bottles and flasks, 
fowls, and pigs were taken away. We had dinner at 
i o'clock and it was eaten in the company of dead 
Frenchmen. One gets used to everything." 

No. 67 

EXTRACT from the note-book of Max Peich, ijth 
Regiment of Infantry, \\th Army Corps, recording 
the murder of three men and a boy at Fumay 
{Ardennes). 

24 August. "Die Ziegelei wird noch einmal durch- 
sucht und wir holen noch 3 Mann und 1 Knaben aus 
einem Brennhofen heraus. Selbige werden dann 
erschossen." 

August 24. "The brick-works were searched once 
more and three men and a youngster were brought out 
of one of the kilns. They were shot forthwith." 



m 




a X - ' "* > ^ 



182 



No. 68 

EXTRACT from the note-book of Private Philipp, 
of the 178th Regiment of Infantry, 12th Army 
Corps, describing the massacre of the civil popu- 
lation in a village near Dinant. 

"Abends 10 Uhr riickte I 178 vom steilen Abhange 
herunter in das brennende Dorf nordlich Dinant. 
Ein entsetzlich schaurig schoner Anblick. 

" Gleich am Eingange lagen ca. 50 erschossene Burger, 
die meuchlings auf unsre Truppen gefeuert hatten. Im 
Laufe der Nacht wurden noch viele erschossen, sodass 
wir iiber 200 zahlen konnten. Frauen und Kinder, 
die Lampe in der Hand, mussten dem entzetzlichen 
Schauspiele zusehen. Wir assen dann immitten der 
Leichen unsern Reis, seit Morgen hatten wir nichts 
gegessen. Beim Durchsuchen der Hauser, fanden wir 
viel Wein und Likor, aber keine Lebensmittel. Haupt- 
mann Hamann war betrunken." 

"At 10 o'clock in the evening the first battalion of 
the 178th marched down the steep incline into the 

burning village to the north of Dinant. A terrific 

183 









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No. 68 



Violations of the Laws of War 185 

spectacle of ghastly beauty. At the entrance to the 
village lay about fifty dead civilians, shot for having 
fired upon our troops from ambush. In the course of 
the night, many others were also shot, so that we 
counted over 200. Women and children, lamp in hand, 
were forced to look on at the horrible scene. We ate 
our rice later in the midst of the corpses, for we had 
had nothing since morning. When we searched the 
houses we found plenty of wine and spirit, but no eat- 
ables. Captain Hamann was drunk." [This last 
phrase in shorthand.] 



No. 60 

EXTRACT from the note-book of the volunteer 
recruit, Quell, of the 107 th Regiment of Infantry, 
19th Army Corps, recording the plundering of the 
Station-master's house at Launois {Ardennes). 

"Morgens am 24 Sept. in Sedan Wein und Kaffee. 
Einige Leute verloren. Weiterfahrt wie am Tag vorher. 
In Launois nachmittags gegen 3 Uhr lange Rast. 
Vollige Pliinderung des verlassenen Hauses des Bahn- 
hofsvorstandes. In Amagne-Lucquy warmes Essen, 
Wein u. Cognac. Weiterfahrt mit vielen betrunkenen." 

"In the morning of September 24 at Sedan, wine and 
coffee. Lost a few men. Continued our march in the 
same manner as yesterday. In the afternoon, about 3 
o'clock, a long halt at Launois. Looted the station- 
master's forsaken house most thoroughly. At Amagne- 
Lucquy, hot food, wine, and brandy. Continued our 
march, with a great many of the men drunk." 



186 






No. 69 



187 



No. 70 

EXTRACT from the note-book of Lieutenant 
Reisland, of the 11 Jth Regiment of Infantry, 12th 
Army Corps, describing the burning of several 
villages in Belgium. 

25 August, 1914. "Wieder viele Brande, ein Dorf, 
hoch gelegen, brannte fast vdllig lichterloh. Als ich es 
von weiten sah, dachte ich sofort an den Brand Wal- 
halas in der Gotterdammerung. Es war ein wunderbares, 
aber erschutterndes Bild." 

August 25, 1914. " More burning. A village perched 
on a height was almost entirely in flames. When I saw 
it in the distance, I thought of the burning of Valhalla 
in the Gotterdammerung. A magnificent, but heart- 
rending sight." 




No. 70 



189 



No. 71 

EXTRACT from the note-book of Private Rudolf 
Rossberg, of the 101 st Grenadier Regiment, 2d 
Saxons, 12th Army Corps, describing the looting 
at Dinant and Laval- M or ency. 

Dinant, August 23. "Auf dem Pflaster schlafen wir 
nicht weit von den Leichen ein, nachdem wir vorher 
noch 2 Cafes gepliindert hatten. Gegen 150 Wein Sekt 
und Likorflaschen waren der Erfolg. Wir sind ausge- 
hungert und nehmen alles mit, Brot, Butter, Cafe . . . 
{illegible word) , Fleisch, Schinken, kurz alles. 

August 28. " Laval-Morency. Grosser Fresstag. 

Freitag. "Anscheinend Ruhetag. ' Fassen alle 
Lebensmittel, Brot, Marmelade, Wein, Zig., schlachten 
Ganse, Hiihner, Karnickel, spiele Klavier, pliindern 
feste." 

Dinant, August 23. "We sleep on the pavement, 

not far from the corpses, after looting two more cafes. 

About 150 bottles of wine, champagne, and liqueurs 

were the results of this operation. We were ravenous, 

and carried off everything, bread, butter, coffee . . . 

{illegible word), meat, ham, in a word everything. 

August 28. "Laval-Morency. Great day of gorging. 

190 



Violations of the Laws of War 191 

Friday. " Apparently a day of rest. We get hold of 
all sorts of provisions, bread, preserves, wine, cigars, 



I ; ' ' 

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No. 71 

kill geese, chickens, rabbits, etc. ... I play the piano, 
and we loot steadily." 



No. 72 

EXTRACT from the note-book of Private Karl 
Scheufele of the 3a 7 Bavarian Regiment of Land- 
wehr Infantry, describing the burning of Saint- 
Maurice {Meurthe-et-Moselle) and its inhabitants. 

"In der Nacht vom 18 auf 19. wurde von deutschen 
Truppen (2 Rgtr 12 Ldw. u. 17.) das Dorf St. Moritz 
zur Strafe dafiir, dass sie auf deutsche Truppen ge- 
schossen haben, vollstandig niedergebrannt. Das Dorf 
wurde umstellt mit 1 m. Zwischenraum, so dass Nie- 
mand herauskonnte, dann wurde von den Ulanen Haus 
fur Haus angezunden. Weder Mann noch Frau noch 
Kind durfte heraus, nur das meiste Vieh wurde weg- 
genommen, weil man das brauchen konnte. Wer sich 
heraus wagte, wurde niedergeschossen. Die ganze 
Einwohnerschaft, die sich darin befand, wurde mit- 
verbrannt." 

"In the night of August 18-19, the village of Saint- 
Maurice was punished for having fired on German 
soldiers, by being burnt to the ground by the German 

troops (2 regiments, the 12th Landwehr and the 17th). 

192 



Violations of the Laws of War 193 

The village was surrounded, men posted about a yard 
from one another, so that no one could get out. Then 
the Uhlans set fire to it, house by house. Neither man, 



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No. 72 



woman, nor child could escape; only the greater part 

of the live stock we carried off, as that could be used. 

Any one who ventured to come out was shot down. All 

the inhabitants left in the village were burnt with the 

houses." 
13 



No. 73 

EXTRACT from the note-book of Private Adolf 
Schlutter, of the 39^ Regiment of Fusiliers, Jth 
Reserve Corps, recording murders and arson at 
Pepinster {Belgium) . 

" 12.8. Pepinster. Biirgermeister, Pfarrer und Lehrer 
erschossen und Hauser eingeaschert. Weitermarsch." 

"August 12. Pepinster. The burgomaster, the 
priest, and the schoolmaster shot, houses reduced to 
ashes. We continue our march." 



194 



[.% 



No. 73 



195 



No. 74 

EXTRACT from the note-book of Non-commis- 
sioned Officer Schulz, of the ^6th Regiment of 
Infantry. 

"Es hiess zuerst dass wir ins Quartier nach Billy 
kommen sollten, wo die ganze Civilbevolkerung bereits 
vertrieben, und das Mobiliar teils genommen, teils un- 
brauchbar gemacht worden ist. Diese Art Krieg- 
fuhrung ist direkt barbarisch. Ich wundere mich, wie 
wir iiber das Verhalten der Russen schimpfen konnen; 
wir hausen ja in Frankreich weit schlimmer, und bei 
jeder Gelegenheit wird unter irgend einem Vorwande 
gebrannt und geplundert. Aber Gott ist gerecht und 
sieht alles: 'Seine Muhlen mahlen langsam, aber 
schrecklich klein.'" 

October 15, 19 14. 

" It was given out at first that we would take up our 
quarters at Billy, from which place the entire civil 
population had already been expelled, and all house- 
hold effects either removed or destroyed. This method 

of making war is absolutely barbarous. I wonder how 

196 
















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198 Violations of the Laws of War 

we can have the face to rail at the conduct of the Rus- 
sians when we are behaving much worse in France; at 
every opportunity, on one pretext or another, we pillage 
and burn. But God is just and sees everything. His 
mills grind slowly, but they ' grind exceeding small.' " 

No. 75 

EXTRACT from the note-book of Lance-Corporal 
Paul Spielmann, of the Ersatz, 1st Brigade of In- 
fantry of the Guard, recording the massacre of the 
inhabitants of a village near Blamont. 

"Die Einwohner sind gefluchtet im Dorf. Da sa es 
graulich aus. Das Blut glebt an alle Barte, und was sa 
man fur Gesichter, grasslich sa alles aus. Es wurde 
sofort samtliche Tote, die Zahl 60, sofort beerdigt. 
Fiele alte Frauen, Vater, und eine Frau, welche in 
Entbindung stand, grauenhalt alles anzusehen. 3 
Kinder hatten sich zusammengefast und sind gestorbe. 
Altar und Decken sind eingestiirtzt. Hatte auch Tele- 
fon-Verbindung mit dem Feind. Und heut morgen, 
den 2, 9., da wurden samtliche Einwohner hinausge- 
trieben, so sah ich auch 4 Knaben, die eine Wiege trugen 
auf 2 Stocke mit einem kleinem Kinde 5-6 Monat alt. 
Schrecklich alles mitanzusehen. Schuss auf Schuss! 
Donner auf Donner! Alles wird geplundert, Hiiner 
alles ward abgeschlachtet (?) {on the following page): 



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199 



200 Violations of the Laws of War 

Mutter mit ihren beiden Kinder, der eine hatte eine 
grosse Wunde am Kopf und ein Auge verloren." 

"The inhabitants have fled in the village.. It was 
horrible. There was clotted blood on all the beards, 
and what faces one saw, terrible to behold! The dead, 
sixty in all, were at once buried. Among them were 
many old women, some old men, and a half-delivered 
woman, awful to see; three children had clasped each 
other and died thus. The altar and the vaults of the 
church are shattered. They had a telephone there to 
communicate with the enemy. This morning, Septem- 
ber 2, all the survivors were expelled, and I saw four 
little boys carrying a cradle, with a baby five or six 
months old in it, on two sticks. All this was terrible 
to see. Shot after shot! Thunder-bolt after thunder- 
bolt! Everything is given over to pillage; fowls and 
the rest all killed. I saw a mother too, with her two 
children; one had a great wound on the head and had 
lost an eye." 



No. 76 

EXTRACT from the note-book of Private Max 
Thomas, of the 107th Regiment of Infantry (8th 
Saxons) 19th Army Corps, describing the crimes 
committed by the German troops at Spontin 
(Belgium) . 

23 August, Spontin. "Eine Kompagnie von 107 und 
108 wurden zuruckkommandiert das Dorf zu durch- 
suchen, die Bewohner gefangen zu nehmen und die 
Hauser in Brand zu stecken. An der rechten Seite von 
[sic] Eingange des Dorfes lagen zwei junge Madchen, 
eine tot und eine schwer verwundet. Auch der Pfaffe 
wurde vor dem Bahnhofsgebaude erschossen. Auch 
wurden noch ander 30 Mann standrechtlich erschossen 
und 50 gefangen gemacht." 

August 23, Spontin. "A company of the 107th and 
1 08th had orders to stay behind and search the village, 
take the inhabitants prisoners, and burn, the houses. 
At the entrance to the village, on the right, lay two 
young girls, one dead, the other severely wounded. 
The priest too was shot in front of the station. Thirty 
other men were shot according to martial law, and fifty 
were made prisoners." 



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202 



No. 77 

EXTRA CTfrom the diary of Fr. Treinen, a volun- 
teer enlisted in the 237 th Regiment of Infantry 
(Reserve), describing the murder of a young man 
near Routers (Belgium) . 

19 Oktober, 1914. "Die Einwohner des Gutes, feine, 
reiche Leute, jammern Gotterbarmlich. Wurden 
durchsucht und bei einem jungen Mann von 21 Jahre 
findet man ein Revolver. Brtillend vor Angst wird er 
vor dem Hof geschleppt und vor den Augen der Eltern 
und Geschwister erschossen. Ich kann nicht hin- 
schauen. Dann ein Streichholz an die wunderschone 
Scheune und alles ist verloren." 

October 19, 1914. "The owners of this property, 
rich and distinguished-looking people, fill the air with 
their lamentations and call upon the mercy of God. We 
make a search and find a revolver on the person of a 
young man of 2 1 . Screaming with terror he is dragged 
out to the front of the farm-house and there shot before 
the eyes of his parents and brothers and sisters. 

"The sight was more than I could stand. After that 

a light was put to the splendid barn and everything 

was destroyed." 

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No. 77 
204 



No. 78 

EXTRA CT from the note-book of Private Weis- 
haupt, of the 3d Bavarian Regiment of Infantry, 
1st Bavarian Corps, recording the burning of 
Parux {Meurthe-et-Moselle) , and other villages of 
Lorraine. 

"10 August. . . . Parie das i te Dorf verbrannt, dann 
gings los 1 Dorf nach dem andern in Flammen; uber 
Feld und Acker mit Rad bis wir dann an Strassen- 
graben kamen, wo wir dann Kirschen assen." 

"August 10. Parux was the first village burnt, 
then we got to work, and one village after another burst 
into flames ; we rode on bicycles over fields and meadows 
until we came to some wayside ditches, where we ate 
cherries." 



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No. 79 

EXTRACT from the note-book of Private Willmer 
of the ^oth Brigade, Ersatz Battalion loth Division, 
Ersatz Corps, recording the plundering at Cham- 
penoux, at Brin (Meurthe-et- Moselle), and at 
Loupmont (Meuse). 

"5 September. Im Dorfe Champenoux — (between the 
liites) : (Bahnhof) Brin — neissig geplundert. Seltene 
Sachen erbeutet, Schinken u. Speck, vor alien Wein. 
Dorf sah trostlos aus. Beschossen. . . . Wein iiber 
Wein. Ganze Sacke u. Kisten voll. Sogar Weinglaser. 
Alle Truppengattungen waren am Plundern. Dazu 
Granatenkonzert . 

"5 Oktober. In Loupmont schemes Schloss, Zimmer, 
darin pers. Teppich, darauf Sau gelegen, geschlachtet, 
im Bett ein Spanferkel, auch geschlachtet. Blut Treppe 
hinunter geflossen. ' ' 

"September 5. In the village of Champenoux — 
between the lines (station) Brin, looted busily. Some 
rare things as booty, ham and bacon, and above 
all wine. The village was a pitiable sight. Bom- 
barded. . . . Wine and more wine. Sacks and cases 

207 



208 Violations of the Laws of War 

full. Even wineglasses. The soldiers of every arm 
shared in the spoils, and plundered to the music of the 
shells. 



No. 79 

"October 5. At Loupmont a fine country house, 
beautiful room with Persian carpet; a slaughtered sow 
on it; in bed a sucking-pig also slaughtered. Blood 
running down the stairs." 



No. 80 

EXTRA CT from the note-book of Private Hans 
Wix, of the J8th Regiment of Infantry {Reserve) 
10th Reserve Corps, condemning the conduct of 
the German troops. 

" Wir leigen hier auf dem Rasen im Garten des Besitzers 
der Glasfabrik, dessen Haus jetzt im Keller unseren 
Regimentsstab beherbergt. Das Dorf und die Arbeiter- 
hauser hier durch und durch geplundert und verwiistet. 
Scheusslich. Es ist doch was daran an dem Gerede von 
den deutschen Barbaren." 

Courey (north of Reims). October 22. "We are 
lying on the lawn here in the garden of the owner of the 
glass-factory, whose house at present shelters the staff 
of our regiment in its cellar. The village and the work- 
men's houses have been plundered and ransacked from 
garret to basement. Horrible. There is really some 
truth in all the talk about German barbarians." 



14 209 












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No. 80 



210 



Ill 



French and German Evidence of the Crimes 

COMMITTED AT NOMENY (MeURTHE-ET-MoSELLE) 

by the Bavarian Troops. 

No. 81 

DEPOSITION of M. Charles-Ferdinand Barbe. 
Police report dated August 24, 1914. 

We, the undersigned, Xavier Guichard, Commissary of 
Police of the City of Paris, and Maurice Godquin, Officer 
Commissary of the Peace, have taken the evidence of M. 
Charles Ferdinand Barbe, 56 years of age, a resident of 
Nomeny (Meurthe-et- Moselle). 
The witness states : 

"After resigning my position in the Prefecture of 
Police, in which I had served during a period of twenty- 
seven years, as a police officer, I retired in July, 1906, to 
Nomeny (Meurthe-et-Moselle) my native place. On 
the 2nd August, 19 14, on the eve of the declaration of 
war, two German Uhlans crossed the frontier at about 
nine o'clock in the morning and came to Nomeny, which 



212 Germany's Violations 

is about five kilometres distant from the frontier. These 
two soldiers had undoubtedly lived in our neighbour- 
hood, for they greeted, by their names, a native of 
Nomeny and a native of Abaucourt. 'Good-day, 
Nonon,' they called to the first, and 'Good-day, 
Toussaint,' to the second. 

"They went back almost immediately, but returned 
a little later with five other cavalrymen, one of whom 
was a lieutenant. They made for the police station. 
There were three policemen in the courtyard, engaged 
in grooming their horses: the Uhlans had no difficulty 
in making prisoners of these men, surprised without 
their arms. The sergeant, who was not in the courtyard 
at the time, succeeded in escaping. The Uhlans led 
away their three prisoners. 

"Between the 14th and 15th August, patrols of 
French and German cavalry passed almost every day 
through Nomeny, the French coming from the direction 
of Nancy, and the Germans from Metz. Some slight 
engagements took place between these patrols, either 
at Nomeny or in the neighbourhood. Some of the 
Germans were killed in these skirmishes; amongst 
others, I saw an officer of Uhlans who had been killed. 

"But no acts of violence against the Germans were 
committed by any of the inhabitants of Nomeny; the 
only people left in the village were old men, women, and 
children: it would have been madness on our part to 
incur the risk of reprisals. Nor did the Germans ever 



Of the Laws of War 213 

complain of any attack on our part. On several occa- 
sions they came foraging in the village, and we always 
gave them what they asked for. 

"At first they used to pay for what they took, but 
after a while they only gave us receipts, saying that we 
must get payment as best we could. 

"From the 15th to the 20th August, Nomeny was 
the centre of military operations. Several German 
shells fell in the village, although there were no French 
troops there. More than once we were compelled to 
seek refuge in the cellars, because several of the in- 
habitants had been killed or wounded by the bursting 
shells. As soon as the bombardment ceased, we came 
out of the cellars and went on with our work. After 
the 20th August, the surviving inhabitants continued 
to live in their cellars without food. If any of them 
went out to seek provisions, the German soldiers killed 
them, shooting them in the street. Whether by night 
or by day those who ventured out were fired upon. 

"But even before the 20th of August, the German 
soldiers had already begun to put peaceful civilians to 
death in Nomeny and the surrounding country. I may 
mention, for instance, the case of postman Cotal, who, 
crossing the street in his shirt sleeves, was pursued by 
Uhlans. Just as he was taking refuge in the Post-office, 
near the Town Hall, he was killed by a rifle shot. I 
might also mention that before the 20th August, the son 
of M. Raymond was killed while at work in his field; 



214 Germany's Violations 

also Nicholas Colson, a retired butcher; a man named 
George, butcher's assistant; a farm lad, 15 years of age 
called Michael, who was killed in the courtyard of the 
farm, accused of having spoken evil of the Prussians. 

"But after the 20th of August, arson and looting 
became matters of everyday occurrence, no doubt, 
because the French patrols had retired. On the 20th, 
at about six o'clock in the morning, some German in- 
fantry of the 4th Regiment, preceded by cavalry, came 
to Nomeny. Without a word of warning, they set fire 
to the Cafe Bellevue, using rockets for the purpose. In 
the same way they set fire to the farm belonging to M. 
Lamy; on leaving this farm they took away with them 
about thirty head of cattle and a dozen horses, which 
they took to Metz. On the 20th August and during the 
following day, they proceeded methodically to burn the 
village and the neighbouring farms, house by house. 
They compelled the Mayor of the place to accompany 
them in these acts of brigandage. The German soldiers 
were led by non-commissioned officers. Their officers 
did not show themselves, but it is certain that the men 
were only acting under their orders. They were stand- 
ing close to the Cafe Bellevue when it was burned. All 
the farms in the neighbourhood of Nomeny were burnt 
after the cattle had been taken away. 

"M. Charvin, a Municipal Councillor, was acting as 
Mayor (the Mayor, M. Rose, an officer of the Reserve, 
having joined his regiment). After compelling M. 



Of the Laws of War 215 

Charvin to accompany them while they burned and 
looted the houses of his district, the German soldiers 
killed him, shooting him just as he was entering his 
residence. 

"It should be observed that the Germans killed the 
inhabitants of Nomeny and burned their houses without 
ever having formulated a complaint of any sort against 
them, and without ever having uttered a threat or a 
warning, or being provoked in any way. They pro- 
ceeded as if they were acting under orders, and as a 
matter of regular duty, in cold blood. From the 5th 
to the 20th August the Commune of Nomeny had 
supplied them with all the provisions they had asked 
for, and frequently without payment of any sort. 

"A number of the inhabitants were killed in the 
streets; some inside their houses, some in the fields, 
and some in their beds. For the most part the victims 
were old men, women, and children. Speaking from 
personal recollection I am able to give the names of 
several people murdered in this way : 

" Meunier, retired butcher, 50 years of age ; Raymond, 
senior, 55 years of age, day-labourer; Schneider, draper, 
40 years of age ; Charvin, 50 years of age, acting Mayor ; 
Humbert, 60 years of age, Notary (his wife and daugh- 
ter are grievously wounded) ; Killian, 70 years of age, 
day-labourer ; Forgelet, 72 years of age, shepherd of the 
Commune. 

"After killing Forgelet, his murderers decapitated 



216 Germany's Violations 

him on the spot. The shepherd who took Forgelet's 
place was killed on the following day, and the village 
flock (500 to 600 sheep) was carried off by the 
Germans. 

"Cahen, 45 years of age, cattle dealer; Madame 
Cousin, 56 years of age, of independent means; Vincent, 
57 years of age, drayman. Kieffert, 36 years of 
age, licensed victualler; (his wife 1 and son, 16 years of 
age, were killed with him.) Menetrez, 55 years of age, 
day-labourer ; Guillaume, 58 years of age, lawyer's clerk ; 
Vasse, 18 years of age, day-labourer. (Madame Cousin 
after being killed, was thrown by the German soldiers 
into the midst of a burning house, where her body was 
burned to ashes.) 

' ' I may also mention the case of Jean-Pierre Adam 
who was thrown alive into the fire by the German 
soldiers; as he did not burn quickly enough to please 
them they finished him off with rifle shots. 

"Another man named Conrart, 72 years of age, bed- 
ridden for 7 or 8 years, was killed in his bed by the 
German soldiers. I have omitted certain other cases, 
such as that of M. and Madame Gourcier, farmers of 
Laborde, who were killed in their home, and many 
others, whose names escape me. 

" Near the station I saw in front of the Cafe Francais, 
which was kept by M. Paul Marcus, some German 
soldiers who fired at all the passersby; they killed a 

1 This is an error. Mme. Kieffert, though wounded, has survived. 



Of the Laws of War 217 

child, to me unknown, which could not have been more 
than 2 years of age. I saw this child, clad in a red and 
white striped dress; it fell stone dead. I also saw a 
woman 60 years of age killed in her garden, an invalid 
who had come out to get a little fresh air. 

"On the 2 1st August, I was hiding in a cellar with 
about fifteen other survivors of Nomeny, when the 
Germans came and found us, and led us out on to 
the new road. They put us on a small hill, so that the 
French artillery should not trouble them any more. I 
met there several other survivors of Nomeny who had 
been there since the previous evening and had slept on 
the bare ground. We lay altogether in the garden, 
scarcely clad, and without any shelter whatsoever, so 
as to serve as a protecting screen for the Germans en- 
camped on the Araucourt Road. Some German officials 
mounted guard over us near a large bonfire. 

" I estimate that, out of thirteen hundred inhabitants, 
at Nomeny, at least 150 were killed by the Germans. 
Only two houses were left standing." 



Read to, and signed by, Barbe, in the presence of the 
Police Commissary of the District, X. Guichard, and of M. 
Godquin, Police Commissary, whose signatures are 
attached. 

The above statement has been confirmed and signed by 
M. Nicholas Roger, farmer, 58 years of age, a resident of 
Nomeny, whose signature is witnessed by the above- 
mentioned Police Officers. 



218 Germany's Violations 

No. 82 

DEPOSITION of M. Georges Munier. 

Thursday, August 27, 1914. 

On the 26th August, 1914, I, the undersigned, Louis 
Planson, Commissary of Police of the City of Paris, specially 
affected to the Vivienne quarter, Officer in the judicial 
branch of the Police, serving under the Public Prosecutor, 
acting under instructions of the Divisional Commissary of 
the second district, interviewed M. Georges Munier, 19 
years of age (formerly a pupil in the school at Chalons, 
temporarily domiciled in the house of M. Benoit, No. 15 
Avenue d'Allemagne), who made the following statement: 

"The Germans first entered Nomeny on the 20th 
August. The population had taken refuge in the cellars. 
I was with my family. Hearing some soldiers passing, 
we asked through one of the ventilators what was 
happening, and were told that a soldier was knocking 
at the doors to make everybody come out, as the houses 
were going to be burnt. 

"We came out into the street. A little farther on a 
detachment of infantry appeared in command of an 
officer who summoned my father to him. My father 
offered no provocation of any kind, but the officer made 
a sign to one of his men, who shot him point blank; 
my father was killed outright on the spot ; his waistcoat 
was scorched by the shot. 

' ' Five hundred yards farther on we took refuge in the 



Of the Laws of War 2 19 

house of M. Bousse, ex-grocer, after having been fired 
at several times on the way. 

"The Mayor, M. Charvin, was there. Shortly after- 
wards, hearing the bell ring, M. Charvin showed himself 
on the threshold and was immediately shot. I witnessed 
these things myself ; I have also heard that two whole fam- 
ilies were massacred, viz. , the Schneiders and the Prevots. 

"These massacres had all the appearance of being reg- 
ularly organized. The Germans proceeded as follows: 

"First, they forbade anyone from going into the streets 
on any pretext whatsoever. Then, when all the inhabit- 
ants had taken refuge in their cellars, they set fire to the 
houses. Those who had taken refuge were thus com- 
pelled to come out again, when they were shot at sight." 

Read over and signed: 
G. MUNIER. 

{Signed) Planson, 

Commissary of Police. 

No. 83 

DEPOSITION of Lieutenant Wilhelm Peters, 
of the 8th Bavarian Regiment of Infantry, 33d 
Reserve Division. 

Verdun, 25, 3, 15. 
Der Unterzeichnete erklart hiermit ehrenwortlich, 
dass die Angaben, die er gegeniiber einem Hauptmann 
beim Stabe gemacht hat, wohl und ganz der Wahrheit 
entsprechen. 






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222 Germany's Violations 

Zu den Angaben gehoren solche iiber die militarische 
Laufbahn des Unterzeichneten, solche iiber die Tatig- 
keit wahrend des Feldzuges und solche -iiber das Ver- 
halten des bayerischen 8. Inf. Rgts. am 20. u. 21. 
August zu Nomeny. 

Einzelheiten iiber den letzten Punkt kann der Unter- 
zeichnete nicht angeben, weil er zu der betreffenden 
Zeit dem Brigadestab zu Mailly zugeteilt war und zwar 
als Melderadfahrer (Unter-offizier) . 

Immerhin hatte er bei seinen Fahrten Gelegen- 
heit, sich davon zu iiberzeugen dass von mehreren 
Soldaten, die sich von ihrer Kompagnie entf ernt hatten, 
Rohheiten ausgefiihrt wurden. 

Zum Beispiel war er Augenzeuge folgender Tat eines 
einzelnen bayerischen Soldaten, dessen Namen er in 
der Eile und bei dem Durcheinander leider nicht fest- 
stellen konnte : dieser unglaublich rohe Mensch erschoss 
einen Familienvater vor den Augen seiner Frau u. 
seines Kindes. 

Ich hatte hierbei, wie bei andern Vorkommnissen 
den Eindruck, dass es den in Nomeny anwesenden 
Offizieren unmoglich war, Derartiges zu verhindern. — 
Soviel ich dariiber urteilen kann, sind die begangenen 
Schandtaten, deren Folgen fast alle spater anwesenden 
Soldaten mit Abscheu erfullten, abnormen Rohlingen 
zuzuschreiben. 

Wilhelm Peters, 

Lt. d. Res. im bayer. 8. 1. R. 



Of the Laws of War 223 

The undersigned declares on his honour that the 
statements made by him before a Captain of the Staff 
are absolutely and entirely true. 

Of these statements some deal with the military 
career of the undersigned, some with his activities dur- 
ing the campaign, and others with the conduct of the 
8th Bavarian Regiment of Infantry at Nomeny on 
August the 20th and 21st. 

The undersigned can give no details of this last 
matter, because on the dates in question he was serving 
on the Staff of the Brigade at Mailly as a cyclist 
despatch- rider (non-commissioned officer). 

Nevertheless, in the course of his journeys, he had op- 
portunities of seeing that brutalities had been perpetrated 
by various soldiers who had strayed from their company. 

For instance, he witnessed the following act of a 
Bavarian soldier, whose name he was unfortunately 
unable to learn in the haste and confusion: this man 
shot the father of a family with incredible brutality 
in the presence of his wife and child. 

It was my impression then and on other occasions, 
that the officers at Nomeny were unable to prevent 
such acts. As far as I could judge, the crimes com- 
mitted, which filled all the soldiers who came to 
Nomeny later with horror, must be attributed to 

abnormal brutes. 

{Signed) Wilhelm Peters, 

Lieutenant 8th Bavarian Regiment of 
Infantry (Reserve). 



224 Violations of the Laws of War 

No. 84 

EXTRACT from the note-book of Private Fischer, 
8th Bavarian Regiment of Infantry, 33d Reserve 
Division. 

"Eine Granate schlug in der Nahe der 11. Kompagnie 
ein und verwundete 7 Mann, darunter 3 schwer. Uni 
5 Uhr wurde uns von Regts. Kommandeur der Befehl 
sammtliche mannliche Einwohner von Nomeny zu 
erschiessen und die ganze Stadt deni Erdboden gleich- 
zumachen, da die Leute torichterweise versuchten 
dem Vorgehen der deutschen Truppen durch Waffen- 
gebrauch Widerstand entgegenzusetzen. Wir drangen 
in die Hauser ein und fassten jedermann, der Wider- 
stand leistete, ab, urn ihn standrechtlich zu erschiessen. 
Die Hauser, die noch nicht bon unserer und von der 
granzosischen Artillerie in Brand gesteckt waren, 
wurden von uns angeziindet, und so fast die ganze 
Stadt eingeaschert. Es ist ein furchterliches Bild, 
wenn die hilflosen Frauen und Kinder, nunmehr, aller 
Mittel bar, zusammengetrieben werden, um nach 
Frankreich abgeschoben zu werden." 

"A shell burst near the nth Company, and wounded 
seven men, three very severely. At 5 o'clock we were 
ordered by the officer in command of the regiment to 
shoot all the male inhabitants of Nomeny, because the 
population was foolishly attempting to stay the advance 



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226 Violations of the Laws of War 

of the German troops by force of arms. We broke into 
the houses, and seized all who resisted, in order to exe- 
cute them according to martial law. The houses which 
had not been already destroyed by the French artillery 
and our own were set on fire by us, so that nearly the 
whole town was reduced to ashes. It is a terrible 
sight when helpless women and children, utterly desti- 
tute, are herded together and driven into France." 



CHAPTER V 

VIOLATIONS OF THE GENEVA 
CONVENTION 

THE UNDERTAKING GIVEN BY GERMANY 

MOBILE Field Ambulances {that is to say those which 
are intended to follow the armies in the field) and the fixed 
establishments of the Army Medical Service shall be 
respected and protected by the belligerents. 

The staff exclusively employed in collecting, carrying, 
and attending to the wounded and the sick, as well as those 
employed in the administration of field stations and 
hospitals, and the chaplains attached to the armies, shall 
under all circumstances be respected and protected; if they 
fall into the hands of the enemy, they shall not be treated 
as prisoners of war. 

(Articles 6 and 9 of the Geneva Convention, 
renewed on July 6, 1906.) 

THE DEEDS OF GERMANY 

No. 85 

REPORT by Assistant- Surgeon Mozer, of the 
Reserve, 161st Regiment of Infantry, addressed 



228 Germany's Violations 

to Surgeon-Major Cadiot of the same regiment, 
describing the circumstances under which he was 
wounded by a German officer. 

Berck-Plage, November 26, 1914. 

I have the honour to bring to your knowledge the 
circumstances under which I was wounded, on the 22 d 
August, at Mercy-le-Haut. 

Having left you that morning at the Town Hall of 
Mercy-le-Haut, where we had just seen the German 
wounded, I proceeded with M. L'Hommel, to rejoin 
the stretcher-bearers of the 1st Battalion. From them 
we learned that several French wounded had been 
without medical relief since the previous evening at 
Mercy-le-Bas. I proceeded thither on my bicycle, 
and having attended to them, came back to Mercy- 
le-Haut. I was next called to see an artillery officer, 
who had just been wounded. I proceeded to the house 
in which he had been placed, and there learned that he 
had already been seen by a doctor of the 161st. At 
this moment the fight was raging. I did several dress- 
ings in the streets of the village, and, having no means of 
transport at my disposal, placed the severely wounded 
cases in various houses of Mercy-le-Haut. 

The regiment retreated, and the village was subjected 
to gunfire from one side whilst its streets were enfiladed 
by the enemy's musketry. I tried to get away on my 
bicycle, but after going a few yards, was thrown to the 



Of the Laws of War 229 

ground. My back tire had been struck and my front 
wheel injured by a bullet. Suffering greatly from my 
fractured foot, on which I had fallen, it would have 
been impossible for me to go far, and I realized that I 
could not hope to rejoin my regiment ; I decided there- 
fore to return to the house in the village. I found there 
M. L'Hommel, with a number of medical orderlies and 
stretcher-bearers, attending to the wounded. A shell 
falling upon the Town Hall compelled us to bring down 
the French wounded from the first storey. 

When the bombardment was over, I proceeded to 
search for the wounded with the help of two stretcher- 
bearers. Between two trips, I heard that a wounded 
officer, who had sought refuge in a house in the village, 
was asking for medical aid. I went thither, and found 
Capt. de La Laurencie. Just as I was about to dress 
his wound, the Germans came upon the scene. It was 
just growing dusk when the house in which we were was 
invaded by a patrol. The officer in command disarmed 
Capt. de La Laurencie. After questioning me, and 
learning that I belonged to the Medical Staff, he left 
me my revolver. 

Having dressed Capt. de La Laurencie's wound, I 
went out to continue my search for the wounded; 
but first of all, I went to try and find a lantern in an 
adjoining house. 

Accompanied by Corporal Deshayes and three 
stretcher-bearers, I set out first from the village of 



230 Germany's Violations 

Mercy-le-Haut, a few paces in front of them. Hardly 
had we left the house, when we were seen by a German 
patrol, which, without challenging us, opened fire, but 
no one was hit. I called out to my men, "Go back." 
As for me, I went forward rapidly a few paces and then 
lay down behind a carriage from which position I en- 
deavoured to explain to them in German that I belonged 
to the Medical Staff. They replied in French, "Come 
here." I did so, and they began to question me as to 
the capacity in which I was acting and that of my 
followers. I then asked them if I could look after our 
wounded, to which they replied that they would take 
me to their captain, in command of the post. I found 
this officer in a courtyard dimly lighted by a light com- 
ing from an adjoining room, of which the door was open. 
In this room shortly before, I had placed two men, 
wounded in the chest. These men were lying on mat- 
tresses and witnessed the scene which I am about to 
describe. 

I was again questioned by the officer, and then 
searched. Nearly everything on my person was taken 
from me, including probably a pocket-book containing 
bank notes and a list of the wounded I had attended 
during the day, for I could not find this pocket-book 
afterwards. Seeing my revolver-case, the officer opened 
it, took out the revolver, and complained of my carry- 
ing arms. I explained to him why we carry weapons, 
and added that the Geneva Convention authorizes us 



Of the Laws of War 231 

to do so. Declining to hear my explanation he made 
me pass in front of him, and take my stand in the 
recess of the doorway. Standing on my left side, he 
held my revolver pressed against my temple ; I believed 
that he was simply trying to test me, and my chief 
object at the time was to remain quite cool. He pulled 
the trigger, but the safety catch was down and I heard 
several times the click made by the cylinder revolving 
on its axis. I then tried to turn round towards him so 
as to tell him that the joke had gone far enough, but 
at that moment something, I do not know what, per- 
haps a new sort of noise, warned me that he was about 
to shoot. I turned my head quickly to the right just 
as the revolver went off, and the bullet hit me on a level 
with the left mastoid process, coming out towards the 
right eye. 

Without losing consciousness I fell down. I was 
suffering acutely, and overcome with such extreme 
vertigo that I was unable to get up and remained lying 
there on my left side. After a few minutes I tried to 
raise myself, but was unable to do so. I moved enough, 
however, to enable me to see the German officer with 
the revolver still pointed at me. He threatened to 
shoot me if I moved. At this moment I perceived that 
a discussion was taking place in German between him 
and a new arrival. I was fully expecting another 
bullet when, to my surprise, I heard these words spoken, 
"Are you suffering very much? What they have done 



232 Germany's Violations 

to you is infamous . " It was a German officer, who with his 
revolver in his hand, thus addressed me. He lifted me up 
and had me taken to the house from which I had come, 
where my wound was dressed by Corporal Deshayes. 

It seemed to me, at the close of this scene, that the 
first officer was about to finish me off when the second 
prevented him by threatening him with his revolver. 
This is nothing more than a simple deduction which I 
draw from observation of the facts as I perceived them. 

I was in such a state of collapse and suffering more- 
over from dislocation of the jaw, that, believing myself 
to be mortally wounded, I did not endeavour to question 
this latter officer, who might possibly have been willing 
to testify on my behalf and supply me with the name of 
the assassin. 

I was subsequently carried to Fontoy and later to 
Metz, and I desire particularly to inform you that, 
during the time that I spent in the German hospitals, 
I have nothing but praise to give to the attitude and 
courtesy of their staff towards the French wounded. 

After remaining a fortnight in the German lines, I 
was brought back in a motor car to within a few miles 
of the French advance posts. That evening, I was 
brought to the Gama hospital at Toul, from which, a 
fortnight later, I left for Berck on convalescent leave. 

{Signed) M. Mozer. 

Assistant-Surgeon of the 161 st Regiment of Infantry, 
now at the Naval Hospital of Berck-Plage. 



Of the Laws of War 233 

No. 86 

REPORT forwarded by Police Lieutenant Tuail- ' 
Ion, in command of the district of Pontarlier, having 
reference to the cruelties inflicted at Recquignies 
on ten French hospital orderlies. 

The following statement has been made by Dr. Del- 
fosse, Assistant-Surgeon of the 1st Class, Dr. Bennin- 
son, Assistant-Surgeon of the 1st Class, and Dr. Crepi, 
Supernumerary-Surgeon : 

"On the 6th September, 19 14, the field hospital of 
the first territorial regiment of infantry was located 
at Recquignies (entrenched camp of Maubeuge) when 
it was captured by the Germans. They took a corporal 
and nine hospital assistants to Boussois, to help them 
in carrying their wounded, and on their return to Rec- 
quignies compelled them, under pain of death, to set 
fire to the houses of the doctor and the Mayor of the 
place, which was done by putting straw under the beds 
and lighting it. 

"This done, as the Germans had to make their way 
along a level road, exposed to the flank fire of French 
machine guns, they compelled these hospital assistants 
to line up along the road in such a manner as to conceal 
their own movements. In the course of this dastardly 
manoeuvre, three of the hospital assistants were seri- 
ously wounded. A fourth, having offered some resist- 
ance to the orders of the Germans, was nearly killed 



234 Germany's Violations 

by them with the butt-ends of their rifles. The unfor- 
tunate man was still spitting blood at the time when 
the doctors were able to leave their place of captivity." 

(Signed) Tuaillon. 

No. 87 

REPORT forwarded by 2d Class Surgeon-Major 
Rigaux, in charge of the Medical Staff of the Com- 
posite Regiment (5th Army, 1st Army Corps), 
having reference to the bombardment of a regimental 
first-aid post, stationed at the farm of La Pecherie. 

First-Aid Post, December 9, 1914. 
The farm of La P&cherie is situated in the Department 
of the Aisne, in the canton of Neufchatel ; it is a depen- 
dency of the Commune of Pontavert, and distant from 
it about two kilometres. Standing by itself in the plain, 
it was used as a regimental first-aid post under the 
Red Cross. Strict orders had been issued in the neigh- 
bourhood of the farm that no one carrying weapons was 
to be allowed to enter it, and a notice to that effect was 
posted on the door. 

From and after the middle of October, shells fell 
occasionally round and about the farm; in one or two 
cases they even struck the courtyard or the outhouses. 
After the bombardment of the 27th November, acting 
on the advice of the general commanding the 26. Divi- 
sion, the Red Cross pennons, which, it seems, had been 



Of the Laws of War 235 

scarcely visible on the front of the house and on the 
roofs, were replaced by two large flags, two yards by 
three, mounted upon flagstaffs eight yards high. 
From that date forward, shells fell without ceasing. 
After some firing from the direction of La Miette, which 
sent shells right into the courtyard of the farm (evident- 
ly trial shots) , we were treated every morning from nine 
o'clock till noon, to a systematic bombardment, with 
the range evidently established, commencing at the 
outskirts of the farm and ending on the buildings. 
Seventeen of our people were wounded. 

joth November. A shrapnel shell, striking sideways 
on the inner side of the cattle-shed roof, sent several 
splinters into the ward, where four men were wounded, 
one seriously. 

3d December. A shell fell on the cattle-shed next to 
the sick ward, and there were six casualties. 

4th December. A shell fell in the courtyard, at the 
south-east inner angle of the buildings therein situated. 
There were seven casualties, of whom six (four stretcher- 
bearers and two patients) were badly wounded, the 
seventh case was not serious. 

$ih December. A few shells round the farm. 

6th December. A shell on the corner of the barn, at 
the south-east angle of the courtyard, another on the 
manure heap, and a third in the stable; considerable 
damage done to the buildings; three shrapnel shells 
burst over the farm. 



2^,6 Germany's Violations 

*jih December. A regular and systematic bombard- 
ment. About fifty shells fell on the buildings and all 
around the farm. 

At the commencement of these bombardments, ib 
was only the last shell which reached us, after which 
all was quiet. Later on it was the one before the last, 
the last one going over the farm ; but speaking generally, 
every projectile reached its object, either grazing the 
roofs, and leaving the marks of their passage thereon 
before falling close to the farm, or exploding in the 
immediate vicinity, as if their intention were to prevent 
us from escaping. These were a'l large calibre shells 
(150). 

The farm was evacuated on the night of the 4th of 
December. 

{Signed) Dr. Rigaux, 

Surgeon-Major. 

OPINION of the Colonel commanding the \th 
Brigade: 

I make no statement without proofs; up to the 27th 
November, inclusive, I should not have been prepared 
to state definitely that the ambulance was the target 
at which they were aiming, but since the 28th I have 
had no longer any doubts upon the subject. I hope to 
be able to forward a photograph shortly. 

{Signed) Levi. 

December 9, 1914. 



Of the Laws of War 237 

No. 88 

STATEMENT by Sub-Lieutenant Desforges, 
of the 151st Regiment of Infantry, describing the 
cruel treatment inflicted on wounded men under 
the Red Cross flag. 

At ten o'clock in the morning of the 22d February, 1915, I, 
the undersigned, Jules Manouvrier, special assistant Com- 
missary attached to the Military Government of Paris, 
Inspector of Judicial Police in the Department of the Public 
Prosecutor, 

Acting by virtue of the appended letter, dated 14th 
February, 19 15, from the Minister of War, forwarded to 
me as my instructions by the Military Governor of Paris, 

Took down the evidence of M. Jean Desforges, 22 years 
of age, a Sub-Lieutenant in the 151st Regiment of Infantry, 
on sick leave at the home of his parents in Paris, No. 4 
Avenue de l'Opera. He, having taken before me the usual 
oath to tell the whole truth, made the following declaration: 

" I was wounded by a splinter of shell on the forehead 
on the 22 d August, 19 14, at about seven o'clock in the 
evening at a place called Meix, before Virton, in Bel- 
gium. I was carried to the house of some Belgian 
peasants not far from the spot known as Oudrigny. 
Other wounded men had already been carried thither. 

"Between five and six o'clock in the morning of the 
following day, a hay-cart, drawn by one horse, was 
brought to take the wounded back to the French lines. 
We had got into it as best we could, and the waggon was 



238 Germany's Violations 

still standing in front of the house where we had passed 
the night, when a section of German infantry suddenly 
made its appearance from the ditch which ran along- 
side a road at right angles to that on which we were. 
The German lieutenant in command, catching sight of 
the waggon standing there and filled at the time with 
about ten wounded men, threw out his men in skirmish- 
ing order, ordered them to kneel, and indicated the cart 
as their target; he then made them get up and com- 
manded them to fire two volleys. A Red Cross flag 
was flying over the cart. 

"After he had ordered them to cease firing, he came 
up and had the wounded men roughly turned out of the 
cart, after which he entered the house, which his men 
sacked and looted from top to bottom. Next, having 
had all the arms, ammunition, and goods taken from 
the house and from the persons of the wounded, he had 
them loaded on to the cart, and went away with his 
men and his booty. A few hours later, another con- 
veyance was requisitioned which brought us to the 
French lines." 

Read to the witness, confirmed by him, and signed. 

Jean Desforges. 

With reference to which facts I have drawn up this 
report to be forwarded to the General of Division, Military 
Governor of Paris. 

{Signed) Manouvrier. 

Special Assistant Commissary. 



Of the Laws of War 239 

No. 89 

DESPA TCH from the Minister of War to the 
Minister for Foreign Affairs. 

Bordeaux, January 15, 1915. 
Under date the 29th December last, I had the honour 
to forward to you, at your request, a copy of an official 
report by Dr. Simonin, Chief Surgeon of the 1st Class, 
Assistant Director of the Army Medical Service of the 
10th District, having reference to the circumstances 
which led to the murder of M. Deschars, French Consul 
and military interpreter, by a German non-commis- 
sioned officer at Gomery, in Belgium. 

I hasten to acquaint you with the results of the in- 
vestigation which I have caused to be made into this 
abominable violation of international law. z 

On the 22d August, after the battle of Ethe (in Bel- 
gium) , some 300 wounded men had been collected and 
brought to the Chateau de Gomery, the property of 
Baron de Gerlache, where they were placed in an am- 
bulance under the protection of the Red Cross, whose 
flag was flying at the entrance gate, and over the 
pediment of the house. 

Dr. Dutheil, assistant surgeon of the 14th Regiment 
of Hussars, had established his regimental aid post 
there with the help of Assistant Surgeon Pierquin, of 

1 The following details are taken from the several statements appended 
to this despatch. 



240 Germany's Violations 

the ioist Regiment of Infantry, and of Medical Student 
Duflos of the I02d Regiment. Furthermore, Chief 
Surgeon Simonin, who had been wounded the same day 
in the course of the engagement by a bullet which had 
pierced his knee, had had himself carried thither, and 
from the hall where he lay, supervised and directed the 
service of the ambulance. At the same time, Surgeon- 
Major Sedillot, of the 26th Regiment of Artillery, had 
taken up his quarters in the village itself, with Assistant 
Surgeon de Charette and several hospital assistants of 
the same regiment. 

At nine o'clock in the evening of the 22d August, the 
first patrol of Uhlans made its appearance at the gate. 
The officer in command parleyed with Surgeon-Major 
Dutheil and Mademoiselle Raphaelle de Gerlache. He 
retired, however, without making any demands, other 
than that a lamp should be placed beside the pennon of 
the Red Cross at the entrance gate. 

About an hour later some firing was heard, not very 
far from the house. 

At half -past ten, a second Uhlan patrol appeared at 
the gate, led by an officer who, in bad French and with 
a brutally arrogant manner, declared that his men had 
been fired upon from the village and that the shots came 
from a house flying the Red Cross flag. He refused, 
nevertheless, to enter the chateau and satisfy himself 
that it contained no weapons, and threatened to have 
Dr. Dutheil and Dr. Duflos shot on the spot. By his 



Of the Laws of War 241 

orders these gentlemen were roughly seized, thrown on 
the ground, and then led off to the village, with their 
hands tied, between Uhlans, who held revolvers to their 
heads. 

After having passed through Gomery, they were 
brought to the village of Bleid, where there was a Ger- 
man ambulance. There they were courteously received 
by their German confreres, who, after making use of 
their services for a part of the night in dressing wounds, 
gave them a safe-conduct to return to Gomery, under 
the guard of four men. But, on their way, they fell 
in with another patrol, which, putting them in the midst 
of their horses, took them as far as Ethe. There the 
General, Count Solms, commanding the 5th Army 
Corps, gave them with his own hand a safe-conduct 
to Gomery ; they arrived there finally at eleven o'clock 
in the morning, utterly worn out, having had nothing 
since the previous evening except a piece of bread and 
some water. 

On the 23d August, at about midday, a German 
patrol, commanded by a young officer and consisting of 
soldiers of a regiment of Pomeranian Grenadiers, sud- 
denly invaded the courtyard of the chateau. Without 
preliminary warning, and disregarding the flag of the 
Red Cross, these men fired a volley in the direction of 
the front of the building; a number of bullets came 
through the windows, but without wounding anyone. 

The chateau was then searched from top to bottom by 
16 



242 Germany's Violations 

the threatening soldiers. The officer, revolver in hand, 
appeared before Dr. Simonin, the Chief Surgeon, and 
denied that he was a doctor, on the ground that the 
buttons of his uniform did not bear the head of ^scu- 
lapius. The explanations given did not satisfy him; 
by his order Dr. Simonin was placed upon a stretcher 
and taken off to Gomery between six armed men. 

At the entrance to Gomery, Dr. Simonin saw the 
soldiers of the regiment to which this patrol belonged, 
methodically setting fire to the first houses of the vil- 
lage, whilst old men, women, and children were fleeing, 
with their cattle, under a hail of bullets. 

At a distance of 1500 yards from the village, the 
stretcher was set down by the roadside for a few min- 
utes, while the German went to look for his superior offi- 
cer, to convey to him the protest of Dr. Simonin and to 
say that he claimed the acquaintance of Dr. von Coler, 
Inspector-General at the Ministry of War, at Berlin. 
In a little while the officer came back and ordered the 
two bearers to convey the doctor back to the chateau. 
With a military salute to the doctor, he said: "I am a 
student of the University of Bonn. I am not really 
brutal. I am sorry, . . . but it is war." 

Thus Dr. Simonin was able to return to the castle and 
to resume charge of the ambulance. 

During this painful excursion, the village had been 
the scene of the most horrible atrocities. 

Shortly after daybreak on the 23d August, two patrols 



Of the Laws of War 243 

of Uhlans had passed through Gomery without any dis- 
turbances. Later, a third arrived, led by a non- 
commissioned officer of the 47th Infantry Regiment, 
who appeared to be much excited and the worse for 
liquor. He proceeded to search the hospital, removing 
the bandages to make sure that no able-bodied men 
were being concealed. 

On the first floor he found a number of wounded 
officers, and amongst them Interpreter-Lieutenant 
Deschars, whom he ordered to come down to the ground 
floor, where he was placed upon two chairs. The non- 
commissioned officer then went away with his men, but 
returned again in half an hour, more excited than ever, 
and complained to the Interpreter Officer that he had 
been fired upon. Then, without even giving him time 
to reply, he blew the lieutenant's brains out, point 
blank. Next he turned his weapon against Surgeon- 
Major Sedillot, who, fortunately, was able to deflect 
his aim a little and received the bullet in the shoulder. 
The doctor fled, and as he ran, two more shots struck 
him, one on the left arm and the other on the right 
thigh. 

These shots were the signal for a general massacre: 
the men of the patrol began to fire upon the wounded, 
whilst the bearers and those patients who could walk, 
endeavoured to find shelter from the fusillade. On 
one side, Stretcher-bearer Bourgis was kneeling by the 
side of a wounded man, whose leg he was dressing under 



244 Germany's Violations 

the supervision of Dr. Vaissiere. Both these men lay 
down flat on the ground, but a soldier came up and 
fired at them as they lay. Two shots were fired at the 
stretcher-bearer. The bullets merely grazed his ribs 
without inflicting wounds, but Assistant-Surgeon Vais- 
siere was mortally wounded. Then there came other 
German soldiers, who threw lighted straw into the 
room. Bearer Bourgis got up, pulled the body of Dr. 
Vaissiere from the burning straw, and then fled to the 
garden. As he lay hidden in the kitchen garden, he 
saw a lieutenant of the College of St. Cyr, whose leg 
had been amputated only that morning, jump from the 
first floor. 

Twenty minutes later, Bearer Bourgis was discovered 
by three German soldiers, who made him get up, took 
him through the barn building, which was full of 
wounded and on fire throughout, and led him to the 
wall of the cemetery, where an execution squad was 
drawn up. 

There he was compelled to witness a terrible spectacle : 
he saw a first group executed, amongst whom he recog- 
nized in particular one of his comrades, Stretcher-bearer 
Gresse. Afterwards he, too, was placed up against the 
wall with his arms above his head, beside the body of 
his friend, but he had sufficient presence of mind to 
throw himself on the ground, as soon as the order to 
fire was given by the non-commissioned officer in charge 
of the execution, so that he escaped with nothing worse 



Of the Laws of War 245 

than a number of kicks and blows in the back from the 
rifle-butts of the soldiers of the firing party. 

A few minutes later, attempting to escape, he was 
observed by two German soldiers, who, however, more 
humane than the rest, conducted him to the ambulance 
to have his wounds dressed by Dr. Dutheil. 

Meanwhile, a number of other men, namely Stretcher- 
bearers Bellanger, Guion, Dabout, and Tessier, accom- 
panied by a few wounded, had sought refuge in the 
cellar, where they were joined during the night by Dr. 
Sedillot. In spite of the heat and smoke, they remained 
there until noon of the following day, when they decided 
to come out. They were immediately recognized, 
seized, and led to the entrance of the cemetery, where, 
to their horror, they saw the bodies of about twenty 
soldiers who had been shot. 

At this moment, Surgeon-Major de Charette, who 
had been wounded on the 226. August, came out 
from a neighbouring house, accompanied by three other 
wounded men. Surgeon-Major Sedillot was talking 
to him, when a German soldier came up and reported 
that a soldier had been wounded in the vicinity of the 
hospital. Upon this, the German officer informed Dr. 
de Charette that, if the guilty man were not produced 
forthwith, he and the men who were with him would 
be shot. In spite of his protestations, in which Dr. 
Sedillot joined, Dr. de Charette and his wounded com- 
panions were taken back into the house from which 



246 Germany's Violations 

they had come, and in a few minutes the sound of a 
volley told their comrades that a new crime had been 
perpetrated. 

A little later a German officer came up to Dr. Sedillot, 
with a pocket-book and a letter in his hand, to inquire 
the address of Dr. de Charette. He withdrew after 
stating that the letter would be forwarded to that ad- 
dress and that the pocket-book would be restored to 
Dr. de Charette's family after the war. He expressed 
regret that Dr. de Charette's identity as a doctor had 
been recognized too late. 

According to the evidence of those who witnessed 
this horrible tragedy at Gomery, the number of men, 
wounded and otherwise, who perished in the burning 
buildings cannot be reckoned at less than 300, whilst 
that of the soldiers who were shot in the cemetery was 
between 100 and 120. 

As to Dr. Sedillot, and the lieutenant from St. Cyr, 
whose leg the doctor had amputated on the very 
morning before the hospital was burned, they were 
taken to a German ambulance in company with some 
other commissioned and non-commissioned officers, 
and thence conveyed to Germany. 

Complete proof of these tragic events is furnished by 
the statements which have been put on record by Dr. 
Simonin, the chief surgeon, and by Stretcher-bearers 
Lucas, Guion, Bellanger, Bourgis, Tessier, and Dabout. 
The pretext put forward by the Germans to justify 



Of the Laws of War 247 

these executions will not bear a moment's examination. 
For, even supposing (and the charge has never been 
proved) that some of the German patrols had been fired 
upon, this could only have been done by combatants, 
and certainly not by the patients or staff of the hospital 
who, as the first patrols had been able to ascertain, 
possessed no weapons. 

Dr. Dutheil has not rejoined his corps since the 23d 
of August, being detained in Germany, in defiance of 
the very explicit rules laid down by international law. 

I consider it to be my duty to forward, herewith, a 
copy of the several statements made by the witnesses 
examined during the course of this investigation. 

You will, no doubt, concur in my opinion that it is 
advisable to draw the attention of the representatives 
of neutral countries to the facts thus clearly established 
and to appeal to the indignation of the civilized world 
against acts of this kind, which come not within the 
category of military operations, but are crimes against 
the common law. 

Of the several sworn statements enclosed in this 
despatch, we reproduce only the two following : 

A 
STATEMENT by Stretcher-bearer Dabout. 

Acting upon the instructions contained in the Ministry's 
despatch No. 3034/CP/10, of the 25th November, 1914, I 
have duly questioned 2d Gunner Dabout, stretcher-bearer 



248 Germany's Violations 

of the second battery, with reference to the facts stated in 
the said despatch, and have recorded his statement, as 
follows : 

"On the morning of the 23d of August three detach- 
ments of German infantry arrived at Gomery. The 
first two gave us no trouble. The third, consisting of 
men of the 47th Regiment, entered the house in which 
Dr. Sedillot had established his dressing-station. At 
that moment I was in a room on the ground floor. 
Acting upon orders given by a non-commissioned 
officer in charge of this detachment, I helped to bring 
down from the first floor Interpreter-Officer Deschars, 
who was lying wounded on a stretcher. We placed 
him upon two chairs. After exchanging a few words 
with the lieutenant interpreter this non-commissioned 
officer shot him point-blank with a revolver, after which 
he turned the weapon against Dr. Sedillot ; but the latter 
deflected the bullet by pushing his arm aside. He was 
struck, however, in the shoulder. Thereupon the 
soldiers began a regular fusillade, firing upon the 
wounded in the hospital. 

' ' I made my escape at the back of the premises and 
sought refuge in the cellar, where I found the owner 
of the house and a number of hospital assistants and 
wounded men. Dr. Sedillot joined us there during the 
course of the night. I left the cellar with Dr. Sedillot 
and all those who had remained in it after the departure 
of Bellanger. 



Of the Laws of War 249 

"No sooner were we outside upon the road than we 
were stopped by German soldiers, to whom we surren- 
dered, drawing their attention to our Red Cross and 
the wounded men who were with us. They led us to 
the entrance of the cemetery; on our way thither we 
passed in front of the wall where the executions had 
taken place. I recognized, beyond all doubt, the body 
of Hospital Assistant Grunbert, belonging to the 2d 
Battery. 

"On the evening of the 24th three German soldiers 
ordered me to follow them, and led me through the 
ruins of the village. They took me to a place where 
no one could see them, and then, pointing their rifles 
at me, gave me clearly to understand by gestures that 
it was a case of my money or my life. I gave them my 
purse and my wedding-ring. The latter was subse- 
quently returned to me by a German non-com- 
missioned officer, doubtless because the inscription 
engraved upon it might have got the thieves into 
trouble. 

"I estimate that more than two hundred men per- 
ished in the flames and that about eighty were executed 
at the cemetery wall. 

"We remained at the entrance of the cemetery, 
looking after the wounded, until we were transferred 
to the school ; on the 30th we left for Arlon and thence 
were sent to Altengrabow." 

{Signed) Dabout. 



250 Germany's Violations 

In testimony whereof we have drawn up the present 
official report. 

Chartres, 22d December, 19 14. 

{Signed) Fleury. 

Lieut. -Colonel in command of the depot of 
the 26th Artillery. 

B 

STATEMENT by Driver Tessier. 

In pursuance of the instructions contained in the Ministry's 
despatch 3034/CP/10, of the 25th November, 1914, I have 
duly questioned 2d Driver Tessier with reference to the 
facts stated in the said despatch, and have recorded his 
statement, as follows: 

"I arrived at Gomery at about 4 p.m. on the 22 d 
August with the medical-supply wagon and Dr. Sedil- 
lot, who proceeded to arrange his dressing-station in the 
most comfortable house on the La Tour road, not very 
far from the cemetery. It was not long before men 
wounded in the fight at Ethe began to come in; the 
night passed off quietly, we being busy, dressing wounds. 

' ' Two German patrols came along early on the morn- 
ing of the 23d, but withdrew on recognizing that we were 
engaged on ambulance work, stating that they would 
respect the Red Cross. 

"A third detachment arrived, led by a sergeant who 
spoke very loudly, and seemed excited and under the 
influence of liquor. He went all over the premises 
where the wounded were, and had their bandages taken 



Of the Laws of War 251 

off to make quite sure that we were not concealing 
able-bodied men. He paid particular attention to the 
room on the first floor where the wounded officers were, 
amongst whom was the Interpreter-Officer Deschars. 
He ordered that this officer should be brought down, 
on his stretcher, into the room adjoining the entrance, 
and left there till further orders. Then he went off 
with his men, but in about half an hour came back, 
even more excited than before, and complained to the 
Interpreter that the German troops had been fired 
on in the neighbourhood; thereupon, without giving 
the Interpreter time to reply, he blew his brains out. 
Next he turned his weapon against Dr. Sedillot, who 
turned the shot aside by jerking his arm, but was 
wounded in the shoulder. Then, as the doctor was 
trying to escape, two more shots struck him, one on the 
left arm and the other on the right thigh. I proceeded 
to take refuge in the cellar, to which we were led by the 
owner of the house, and there we remained until about 
midday on the 24th. 

' ' On coming out of this cellar we were taken prisoners, 
and led to the entrance of the cemetery , they left me 
with Dr. Sedillot, to help him to walk. Close to the 
cemetery wall I observed the bodies of about twenty 
soldiers who had been shot, amongst whom I recognized 
those of my comrades, Grunbert and Balassay, hospital 
assistants belonging to the first squad of the regiment. 

"Soon after arriving at the cemetery we saw Dr. de 



252 Germany's Violations 

Charette (of the 3d Group of the 26th, who had been 
wounded on the 22 d August) coming out of a house near 
the ambulance, followed by three French soldiers, 
wounded men. He stopped on the road opposite to 
the spot where we were. Dr. Sedillot went up to him 
and said, 'Poor Monsieur de Charette, so you have 
escaped ? ' and then they went on to talk awhile about 
the terrible events which they had witnessed. 

"At this moment a German soldier came up to an offi- 
cer, who was standing close to the road, and told him 
that one of his men had just been shot at and wounded 
in the vicinity of the hospital. This officer came up 
to M. de Charette and, giving him this information, 
declared that unless he denounced the guilty party, 
he and the men with him would be shot on the spot. 

" M. de Charette gave his word of honour that none of 
the wounded had retained their weapons and that he 
could in no wise be held responsible for what had taken 
place. Dr. Sedillot made similar protestations, but 
all were of no avail. The officer had the doctor and 
his wounded men led back into the house from which 
they had come, and a few minutes later a volley told 
us of their execution. 

' ' A little later they came again and took Dr. Sedillot. 
He and I were led away together, as well as a lieutenant 
from St. Cyr (whose foot had been amputated by the 
doctor, before the burning of the hospital, on the morn- 
ing of the 23d August) and two wounded non-commis- 



Of the Laws of War 253 

sioned officers of dragoons. We were brought to a 
place near the church, where we remained seated on a 
bench for about three quarters of an hour; then we 
left Gomery in a German ambulance, which took us to 
Allondrelles (France), where we arrived on the night 
of the 24th. There we were quartered in the school. 

" While we were sitting on the bench outside the 
church at Gomery, a German officer, holding in his hand 
a pocket-book and a letter, came towards us. He asked 
Dr. Sedillot whether he knew the address of Dr. de 
Charette and handed him the envelope to verify it. 
He then went away, saying that the letter would be 
forwarded to its destination and that the pocket-book 
would be restored to the doctor's family after the war. 
He expressed regret that they had recognized too late 
the truth that M. de Charette was a doctor." 

{Signed) Tessier. 

In testimony whereof I have drawn up the present official 
report. 

Chartres, 22d December, 1914. 

{Signed) Fleury, 

Lieut.-Colonel, commanding the depot of 
the 26th Artillery. 



CHAPTER VI 
USE OF FORBIDDEN BULLETS 

THE UNDERTAKINGS GIVEN BY GERMANY 

THE contracting parties bind themselves mutually to 
refrain, in case of war between them, from allowing their 
troops on land or water to use any projectile of a weight 
of less than 400 grammes, which shall be either of an 
explosive nature or charged with fulminating or inflam- 
mable materials. 

(Declaration at St. Petersburg, nth December, 1868). 

The contracting Powers agree to forbid the use of bullets 
which spread or flatten out easily in the human body, 
such as bullets with a hard outer envelope in which the 
casing does not entirely cover the inner core, or which 
bears incisions. 

(Declaration at The Hague, 29th July, 1899.) 
THE DEEDS OF GERMANY 

I. French Evidence 

No. 90 

DESPA TCH from the Minister of War to the 

Minister of Foreign Affairs concerning the use 

of explosive bullets by the German troops. 
254 



Violations of the Laws of War 255 

Bordeaux, September 20, 1914. 

It appears from a communication dated the 9th Sep- 
tember, emanating from M. Bapst, Minister for France 
at Copenhagen, as well as from a telegram sent on the 
9th September by the Cabinet at Berlin to the American 
Ambassador in Paris, that the German General Staff 
has issued a public notification that, notwithstanding 
the provisions of the Geneva Convention, the German 
troops will henceforward make use of dum-dum bul- 
lets, because the French and English troops have been 
the first to do so. The German General Staff asserts, 
in fact, that packets of dum-dum bullets in large num- 
bers have been found on French and English prisoners. 

Moreover, the Emperor has telegraphed to President 
Wilson casting on his adversaries the entire responsi- 
bility for the cruel measures which Germany has been 
forced, he says, to adopt. 

The French Government cannot allow such an accu- 
sation to pass without recording against it the strongest 
protest, on the lines already formulated in the letter 
which the President of the Republic has addressed to 
President Wilson. 

This accusation is unsupported by any sort of proof; 
it is, on the contrary, refuted by a number of duly 
authenticated facts which, through your Department, 
have already been brought to the knowledge of the 
neutral powers. Of these the most important are as 
follows : 



256 Germany's Violations 

At the very outset of hostilities, precise and duly 
authenticated information was brought to the know- 
ledge of the French Military Authorities, whereby the 
Germans were convicted of having violated the inter- 
national conventions signed by the Imperial German 
Government. Thus, after an engagement, which took 
place on the 4th August, 19 14, around the Chalet 
Hartmann, near the tunnel of Altenberg, at the neck 
of the Pass of Schlucht, our troops found on the ground, 
which had been held by the enemy, a certain number 
of cartridges in which the metal casing of the bullet 
had been nicked in such a way as to allow the leaden 
core to be visible at the point, and thus to produce a 
tendency to mushrooming of the leaden core on entering 
the body. 

Subsequently, on the 9th of August, after an engage- 
ment which took place at the Pass of Louchpach, the 
Surgeon-Major of the I52d Infantry reported having to 
deal with wounds caused by "projectiles other than 
ordinary normal bullets of small calibre," and he for- 
warded with his report a cartridge-clip which had been 
found on the Munster Road, adjoining the Germans' 
Custom Station, containing cartridges loaded with 
bullets of a cylindro-conical shape with the ends cut, 
similar to those above mentioned. 

Is it necessary to draw attention to the fact that the. 
use of such bullets is formally forbidden by the declara- 
tion of The Hague? 



Of the Laws of War 



257 




(1) Cartridges found on the 25th and 26th August, 1914, on the 
field of battle at Remereville and at Crevic, in clips carried by German 
soldiers and in the belts of their machine guns. 




(2) Front and side views of a clip picked up on the 26th August on 
the field of battle near Etain by a non-commissioned officer of the 366th 
Infantry and handed over to Captain Baviere, of the staff of the 72 d 
Division. 



17 



258 Germany's Violations 

Wounds resulting from the use of dum-dum bullets 
have been observed upon other occasions, more espe- 
cially at the 3d Ambulance of the 9th Army Corps in 
the case of men wounded on the 27th August at the 
battle of Remereville, and at the mixed hospital at 
Fontenay-le-Comte, in the case of a soldier wounded 
on the 22 d August in the engagement at Meissin, near 
Bouillon, by a shot fired at a distance of about twenty 
yards. 

On the 25th and 26th August, cartridges containing 
dum-dum bullets, the points of which had been cut with 
cross-shaped incisions, were found at various points 
of the field of battle at Remereville and in the neigh- 
bourhood of Crevic ;. these cartridges were found, not 
only in the clips carried by soldiers, but in the belts of 
their machine guns. 

On the 9th August a German cavalry patrol of five 
men of the 8th Hussars, consisting of a non-commis- 
sioned officer and three men, led by Lieutenant Baron 
von WittinghofT-Schell was surprised in a farm, at 
Villers-sur-Liesse (Belgium), by a French detachment. 
Of two revolvers which were found at the place where 
their capture was effected, one, which seemed to belong 
to the officer, was fitted with a clip which contained 
bullets on which cross-shaped incisions had been made, 
roughly enough, on the flattened part. 

The General Commanding-in- Chief has forwarded 
a box of expanding bullets which was found in a limber 



Of the Laws of War 259 

abandoned by the enemy in the wood of Mansuy, 5 
kilometres to the south-east of Luneville. (Forwarded 
on the 2d September.) 

The chief surgeon in charge of the military wards of 
the hospital at Plombieres has forwarded the photograph 
of a wound inflicted by one of these expanding bullets 
on a man of the I52d Regiment of Infantry, on the 2d 
August, at the Pass of Louchpach. The shot was fired 
by a sharpshooter of the 171st Regiment of German 
Infantry (from Colmar) from a distance of 50 or 60 
yards. 

Finally, in a telegram of the 1st September, the Gov- 
ernor of Dahomey reported that in the course of an 
engagement at Chra the Germans used dum-dum bul- 
lets and that on the person of a prisoner certain cart- 
ridges had been found containing projectiles of a nature 
forbidden by International Conventions. This last 
fact proves that the use of these projectiles is regular 
and general throughout the German army. 

These facts, authenticated in a manner which leaves 
no room for doubt, are sufficient to prove conclusively 
that from and after the 4th August, that is to say, from 
the very beginning of hostilities, the German troops 
made use of bullets which by international agreements 
are forbidden as causing cruel and useless sufferings to 
the wounded. 

The use of such bullets is, on the contrary, absolutely 
forbidden by the French military authorities. The 



260 Germany's Violations 

instructions issued for the guidance of our armies in 
the field reproduce, under this heading, the complete 
text of the International Conventions of Petrograd, of 
Geneva, and of The Hague, especially that of the 29th 
July, 1899. There is nothing to show that the rule thus 
laid down has ever been transgressed. 

It would appear, from a publication which has re- 
cently taken place in a German newspaper, that the 
accusations made by the German Government may 
have been inspired by knowledge of the existence in 
France of a special type of cartridges, in which the bullet 
is hollowed out; these are used only by private rifle 
clubs with ranges of limited length. If this be so, it is 
sufficient to state that it is by no means impossible that 
samples of this kind of ammunition may have been 
found at Longwy and at Montmedy in the Ordnance 
Stores (and the information contained in the telegram 
of the nth September from M. Beau having reference 
to the manner in which they were packed, would seem 
to indicate that this was the case). But this kind of 
ammunition is made by the Artillery Directorate, solely 
for the use of such clubs, and delivered only to them; 
it is never issued to the troops. Moreover, as the result 
of the hollowing out of the bullet, this cartridge has 
lost all its ballistic properties, and is thus rendered 
absolutely unfit for military purposes. 

From all these considerations it is clear that no weight 
can be attached to the pretext which has been invoked 



Of the Laws of War 261 

by the German Government in its attempt to justify 
at this date its use of dum-dum bullets, in the manner 
above described (apart from the fact that they have 
been habitually used by its troops since the beginning 
of the war) . 

The French Government is compelled to expose this 
insolent defiance of truth and justice and to call down 
upon it the indignation of the civilized world. 

(Signed) A. Millerand. 

No. 91 

REPORT by Lieutenant-Col. Leleu, Director 
of the Technical Branch of the Artillery, on the 
cartridges submitted to him for examination on 
the 20th of August. 

Paris, August 20, 19 14. 
The cartridges forwarded have nothing to indicate the 
place of their origin ; they were evidently made without 
marks. But they fit the German rifle chamber, and as 
regards the length of the bullet exposed and its leaden 
core, they are identical with that of the German car- 
tridge of the model of 1888. With the exception of the 
portion of the bullet protruding from the casing they 
fit exactly in size and shape over an outline of this 
cartridge taken at the end of 1894. They seem to 
have been made about ten years ago. They are not 
exactly dum-dum cartridges of the kind made in India 



262 Germany's Violations 

by the English, i. e. a bullet in which the exposed end of 
the leaden core is cut with longitudinal incisions near 
the top of the casing ("express solid nose split"). They 
are "soft nose solid " bullets, with the core exposed over 
a length of 4 mm. and a flattened surface of 5 mm., 
calculated to produce a mushrooming of the bullet on 
entering the body. 

The result of this expansion is to increase the surface 
of the wound immediately after penetrating the body, 




Cartridge with core of bullet exposed 

extending it over a wider area of nerves, arteries, and 
veins; its general effect is also to stop the bullet in the 
neighbourhood of the place where it strikes, so long as 
it meets with a certain thickness of tissue, or resistance 
of the kind offered by the larger bones, and to produce 
by its mushrooming tendency, a great destruction of the 
muscular tissues. Fired at a short distance, these 
bullets have all the effect of an explosion on meeting 
with the resistance of a bone. They are generally 
used in sporting rifles, made on the model of military 
rifles, for the shooting of big game. 

There is no doubt whatsoever that these bullets are 
forbidden by the rules of international war. We find, 



Of the Laws of War 263 

* 

in fact, in the international agreement signed at The 
Hague on the 29th July, 1899, under the heading 
' ' Declaration having reference to the prohibition of the 
use of bullets which spread or flatten easily in the human 
body, etc.," the following: "The contracting Powers 
agree to forbid the use of bullets which spread or flatten 
out easily in the human body, such as bullets with a hard 
casing in which the casing does not entirely cover the inner 
core, or which bears incisions." 

{Signed) V. Leleu, 

Lieut. -Col., Director of the Technical 
Branch of the Artillery. 

No. 92 

REPORT by Lieutenant-Colonel Leleu, Director 
of the Technical Branch of the Artillery, on a 
cartridge submitted to him for examination by 
order of the Ministry of War on the $th September, 
1914. 

Paris, yth September, 19 14. 
The cartridge submitted is a German regulation cart- 
ridge with an S bullet fixed in a case manufactured at 
Spandau on the 3d August, 1909. The incisions must 
have been made on the bullet after the cartridge had 
been turned out complete. They consist of two lines, 
cut with a saw, of about 0.5 mm. cut cross ways on the 
point to a depth of 6 mm. 

For purposes of examination, the casing of the bullet 



264 Germany's Violations 

was taken off, so as to ascertain whether the leaden core 
was the ordinary normal core, which had been cut at the 
same time as the outer casing; this proved to be the fact. 

This bullet is therefore not exactly a dum-dum bullet 
of the kind which, the type once fixed, the Calcutta 
factory used to turn out, that is to say, a bullet in which 
the exposed end of the leaden core is cut with longitu- 
dinal incisions, starting from the upper edge of the. 
casing. As in the case of the first English cartridges 
used in the Chitral campaign, the manipulation of the 
bullet has taken place after manufacture, but it has 
nevertheless been carried out by a workman having 
access to a vice and a metal-saw. The operation must 
therefore have been carried out systematically for a 
considerable quantity of ammunition. The ballistic 
quality of bullets cut in this manner without any modi- 
fication of the inner core must be precisely the same 
as that of the ordinary S bullets, so long as they do not 
meet with any obstacle. But if they ricochet against 
a hard object, these bullets, owing to the tendency of 
their points to lose their shape readily, are liable to 
develop considerable lateral deviations, and therefore 
reduce the chances of thoroughly sweeping the ground 
in the case of a badly regulated long-range fire. 

As regards their special killing powers, these bullets 
cannot be included under the same heading as bullets 
which mushroom, for the reason that their core is not 
exposed at the point. In using them, one of three 



Of the Laws of War 265 

things may happen: (1) either the bullet meets with a 
resisting bone, and, its four wings expanding crosswise, 
makes a sort of little windmill with four sails, which 
acts upon the portions penetrated with a corkscrew 
movement, from the point at which the expansion of 
the bullet occurs; or (2) if the bullet penetrates thick 
muscle, it is very possible that the inner core may be 
expelled from the casing, which it would spread out, and 
thus make two projectiles with independent and irregu- 
lar movements; or (3) it is possible that in passing 
through thin or soft portions of the body, a bullet with 
its point cross-cut might behave just like an ordinary 
bullet. x 

Be this as it may, there is no doubt whatsoever that 
these bullets are forbidden by the rules of international 
law. They are proscribed by virtue of that article of 
the Declaration made at The Hague on the 29th July, 
1899, which lays down that "the contracting Powers 
agree to forbid the use of bullets which spread or flatten 
out easily in the human body, such as bullets with a 
hard casing in which the casing does not entirely cover 
the inner core, or which bears incisions." 

(Signed) V. Leleu, 

Lieut.-Col., Director of the Technical 
Branch of the " Artillery. 

1 So far as the knowledge of the editor goes, no experiments have been 
made with bullets thus treated. Those conducted by Surgeon-General 
Bruns dealt only with rifle and pistol bullets the points of which had 
been partially exposed. 



266 Germany's Violations 

No. 93 

NOTE addressed by the General Commanding the 
$ih Army to the Commander-in-Chief on the sub- 
ject of the dum-dum bidlets used by the German 
army. 

Headquarters, 6 p.m., September 8, 1914. 
The General commanding the 5th Army has already 
forwarded, together with a detailed report, certain 
bullets taken from a German officer, the flat ends of 
which had been slit. Certain officers amongst our 
prisoners, to whom the facts of the case have been stated 
and protests made, and upon whom were found bullets 
of the ordinary kind, energetically deny that the use 
of dum-dum bullets has occurred as a general measure 
resulting from the orders of the German higher author- 
ities. They all declare that such incidents must be 
regarded as unusual and doubtless due to the action of 
certain fanatical officers. 

A new fact has come to light, however, which the 
General commanding the 5th Army now brings to the 
knowledge of the Commander-in-Chief, and which 
gives the lie to this interpretation of the facts, proving 
incontestably that dum-dum bullets are used through- 
out the German army by soldiers (possibly chosen from 
amongst the best shots in each unit) as well as by offi- 
cers, and that their use is sanctioned by the higher 
authorities. 



Of the Laws of War 267 

The systematic and regular manner in which the 
bullets have been split (samples forwarded herewith) 
affords indisputable proof that their condition is not 
the result of any individual initiative. These bullets 
were taken from the body of a German at Charleville, 
about ten kilometres to the north-west of Sezanne; 
they have been forwarded this day to the 5th Army 
by the 10th Army Corps. It would seem advisable to 
lay the facts before the Powers which signed the Con- 
vention at The Hague. 

{Signed) D'Esperey, 

General, commanding the 5th Army. 

Copy taken. 

{Signed) Hely D'Oissel, 

General, Chief of Staff. 

No. 94 

REPORT by the Director of the technical branch 
of the Artillery, concerning five cartridges made 
for the "Parabellum" pistol. 

The five cartridges received for examination are Ger- 
man ammunition intended for use in the 9 mil. "Para- 
bellum" pistol (Borchardt Lueger), which appears to 
have been substituted in the German army two or three 
years ago for the 7.65 mm. pistol of the same type. 

The automatic pistol, with chamber for eight cart- 
ridges, carries under normal conditions with a speed 



268. Germany's Violations 

of Vio to a distance of 370 yards, 1 the cartridge being 
loaded with an encased bullet (core of hardened lead 
in a nickel wrapping) , which presents on the outside an 
appearance exactly similar to that of the bullet of the 
cartridges now forwarded for examination. 

These were made by the Deutsche Waffen und 
Munitionen Gesellschaft (D.W.M.) in its branch 
factory at Karlsruhe (K). 2 

The bullet, of the same type as the normal bullet, 
has a conical hole cut in its head, similar to that intro- 
duced in the case of the bullet of 1886 to make the new 
pattern cartridge of the stand model of 1906, but with 
this difference, that the edge of the metal casing is let 
in on the inside of the cavity as shown in the annexed 
photograph of the cut cartridge. 

These bullets are therefore of the dum-dum type 
called by English ammunition makers "solid nose 
hollow." 

The effect of this cavity, however, does not appear to 
be such as might be expected from observation of the 
results given by rifle bullets of a similar kind. Four of 
the cartridges under examination were fired at boxes 
filled with sawdust, and two of them, tested by the 

1 Speed measured with normal cartridges before firing them into 
boxes filled with sawdust. 

2 Total length of the cartridge . . . 29 mm. 
Total weight ....... 12.35 gr. 

Weight of the bullet ..... 7.92 gr. 

Weight of the charge . . . . . 0.350 gr. 



Of the Laws of War 269 

interposition of a plank, calculated to produce the 
effect of passing through a hard body, behaved in a 
manner precisely similar to that of the ordinary cart- 
ridges which were fired at the same time. 

Be this as it may, there can be no doubt as to the 
intention to increase the wounding power of these 





Dum-dum bullets, solid nose hollow type 

bullets by producing a sort of explosion of the head of 
the missile. 

The cartridges examined, intended for use in the 
German regulation-pattern Parabellum pistol, of 9 mm. 
bore, come under the heading of bullets prohibited by 
the terms of paragraph 1 of the Declaration of The 
Hague of the 29th July, 1899. 

Enclosed are two photographs showing the cartridge 
uncut and cut. 

{Signed) V. Leleu. 



270 Germany's Violations 

No. 95 

DESPA TCH from the Minister of War to the 
Minister for Foreign Affairs. 

Bordeaux, October 10, 19 14. 
Sir, — Under date of the 3d October, you were good 
enough to communicate to me a telegram in which the 
Ambassador of the French Republic at Berne expressed 
a desire that we should send him samples of bullets 
found either on the person of German wounded soldiers 
or picked up on the field of battle, in order that he 
might show them to the Federal Council and to the 
Journal de Geneve. 

To this end I have the honour to forward to you 
herewith, leaving it to you to use them as you may 
think fit : 

(1) A cartridge clip containing bullets, the metal 
covering of which is incomplete, picked up on the 9th 
August near the German Customs at the neck of the 
Pass at Schlucht. 

(2) A cartridge clip containing four cartridges, the 
bullets of which are nicked with cross-shaped incisions; 
this was found on the 20th September by the artillery 
of the 1 6th Division at the south-east of the forest at 
Argonne, in the direction of Serancourt and Amblain- 
court. 

(3) A cartridge clip containing three cartridges, two 



Of the Laws of War 271 

of which have cross-shaped incisions on the bullets; 
this was found on the 3d September on the battlefield 
of Ecordal. 

(4) Two cartridges with bullets marked with cross- 




Soft-nosed bullets contained in a clip found near the German . 
Customs House, Pass of Schlucht, August 9, 1914 

shaped incisions, found on the nth September on the 
battlefield of Oyes (Marne). 

Two cartridges containing "reversed" bullets, which 
were taken from the clip found on a wounded German 
on the 1 2th September at Bussy-le- Chateau. 

(5) An expanding bullet found on the 13th September 
at the farm of Vauchamp by a gunner of the 41st Regi- 
ment of Artillery. 



272 Germany's Violations 

(6) Five cartridges designed for use in a pistol of the 
"Parabellum" type (the bullet having a conical hole 
at the point). These were found in a limber aban- 
doned by the enemy in the wood of Saint-Mansuy, 
south-east of Luneville, at the beginning of September. 
They must be classified under the heading of dum-dum 
bullets. 

(7) A piece of the cord used for setting fire to houses, 
found on the 18th September at the village of Fleury- 
sur-Aixe. 

I enclose herewith a translation of a German docu- 
ment which has been forwarded to me by the. General 
Commanding-in-Chief, and which establishes beyond 
all possibility of dispute the enemy's use of explosive 
bullets. I am having this document photographed; 
it was issued by Baron von Liittwitz, General Com- 
manding the 4th Army. In a few days I will send you 
proofs of this photograph, together with copies of the 
documents which substantiate its authenticity. r 

No. 96 

REPORT by Lieutenant-Colonel Leleu, Director 
of the Technical Branch of the Artillery, with 
reference to a cartridge found on a soldier of the 
2d Regiment of the Prussian Infantry of the 
Guard. 

1 See below, document No. 98. 



Of the Laws of War 273 

Paris, 24th October, 19 14. 

The complete cartridge, of which a photograph is an- 
nexed to the present report (together with those of its 
separate parts) , is made in a case similar to that used for 
the German cartridge of the model of 1898, but it bears 
unusual marks. 

These marks may stand for Rheinische Waffen 
Sprengstoff N model of 1888 (cartridge or rifle under- 
stood) of 8 mm. The bullet, measuring 8.07 mm. at 
its base, can be used for the 7.9 calibre rifle. It has 
been ascertained that the finished cartridge fits the 
magazines of the German rifles of the 1888 and 1898 
models. 

The powder used is not" the same as the German regu- 
lation powder. It contains no nitro-glycerine and no 
fixatives, with the exception of a little camphor. Its 
gelatinization, malaxation, and softening with graphite 
have been carried out in a manner inferior to that of 
the German powder in regular use. Up to a certain 
point, it may be likened to the powder, made of pure 
cellulose, used in the German regulation cartridges of 
the 1888 model. 

The bullet, which at first was believed to be plugged 
with a priming of fulminate, simply contains at its 
point a little copper tube 9.5 mm. long and 3.25 mm. 
in width at its exterior diameter, closed at its upper 
end. 

This bullet, of which the casing surrounding the 



274 Germany's Violations 

leaden core has been stript away over a length of 10 
mm. at the point, has been bored out, so as to contain 
the little copper tube above referred to. In spite of the 
hollow thus produced, it weighs 16 grammes, which 
fact is accounted for by its length of 32 mm. ' and the 
extra weight of lead at the tip. The remaining portion 
of the outer casing is held together by two in-turning 
clips, of which one makes a regular hook. This kind 
of bullet is to be found in the collection of Kynoch's 
sporting ammunition under the heading of "soft-nose 
hollow copper tube." It must be classed under the 
category of dum-dum bullets, of which it is indeed one 
of the most grievously wounding types. The fore part 
of the bullet is actually constructed so as to produce 
a severe mushrooming effect when coming in contact 
with hard bodies. The copper tube, moreover, which 
enables it to retain in flight the ballistic properties of a 
sohd-nosed bullet, results in producing at the point of 
contact a consolidation of the striking surface and there- 
after a tearing action throughout the region of the 
spreading wound which it makes. It may there- 
fore be regarded as a real mechanically-exploding 
bullet. 

{Signed) V. Leleu. 

Lt.-Col., Director of the Technical 
Branch of the Artillery. 

1 The length of the German bullet, 1888 model, is 31.25 mm. 



Of the Laws of War 275 

No. 97 

COMMUNICATION made by Dr. Tuffier to the 
Academy of Medicine {vide Report of the proceed- 
ings of the Academy of Medicine; meeting of the 
24th November, 19 14) having reference to the 
nature of certain serious wounds produced by 
the use of "reversed" bullets. 

In the communication which I addressed to the Academy 
of Medicine on the 18th of October, I considered it my 
duty to inform you that a number of wounds which had 
been shown to me and alleged to have been caused by 
explosive bullets, might very well have been produced 
by the bursting of an ordinary bullet on a bone; and I 
added that, to be able to assert positively the existence 
of explosive bullets, they must have been found either 
in the cartridge belt or the magazine of a rifle of a com- 
batant. Today, I bring before you proofs of the exist- 
ence, in the German army, of rifle bullets which have 
been rendered more deadly by a very simple manipu- 
lation. 

In the course of a mission to the north-east front, 
near Arras, I observed, in the case of casualties returned 
from the trenches, certain wounds of which the orifice 
at the point of entry and the deeply conical form could 
not be reconciled with the use of cylindro-conical 
bullets. This perplexed me, and I took occasion to 



276 Germany's Violations 

discuss the matter with one of my colleagues of the 
Paris hospitals, Dr. Potherat (Chief Surgeon of the 
7th Field Hospital of the 10th Army), who had quite 
recently extracted from the hand of a French soldier 
a bullet which had entered by its lower end, which had 
retained its normal shape, and of which the point re- 
mained visible above the surface of the skin. Further- 
more, certain soldiers who had been provided with 
bullet-stoppers (to all intents and purposes, shields) 
told me that, in certain cases, bullets seemed to strike 
the steel plate with a peculiar noise and left upon it an 
unusually large mark. These arguments were not in 
themselves quite conclusive. At the same time, how- 
ever, a Captain of Infantry declared to me that he had 
found German cartridges in which the bullets had been 
reversed, that is to say, with the end pointing inwards. 
I followed up my investigation from this point. 

In order to understand fully that which follows, it is 
necessary to be familiar with the manner in which these 
projectiles are made. The French bullet is cylindro- 
conical and composed of a single homogeneous metal; 
the German bullet is not homogeneous, being made of 
two metals of unequal density, a very thin outer cover- 
ing of ferro-nickel, sheathing a regular cylindro-conical 
leaden bullet. The hard outer covering is incomplete; 
it surrounds the point and the surface of the bullet, but 
does not extend to its base, and I desire to emphasize 
the importance of this fact. At this level, the leaden 



Of the Laws of War 277 

core is there laid bare, as you can verify for yourselves 
by examining this cartridge clip. The danger of bul- 
lets known by the name of dum-dum lies in the fact 
that they are composed of two metals (a hard outer 
covering and a soft inner core) differing in density and 
pliability; on penetrating the body the lead is expelled 
from its casing and creates a regular explosion in the 
wound. It is quite easy to produce this explosive 
effect without making the slightest alteration either in 
the shape or the general appearance of the German 
bullet; all that one need do is to reverse the bullet, 
that is to say, to place it with its end pointing inwards, 
and with the base, in which the lead is loose, pointing 
outwards. Bullets fired under these conditions strike 
the tissues over a surface which forms something in the 
nature of a hard ring, in the midst of which the free 
lead, expelled from its sheathing, lacerates the tissues. 

If you examine more closely the concavity at the base 
of this bullet, you will perceive that it makes a sort of 
little air chamber, which greatly facilitates the opening 
up of the edges. 

As for the manner in which the bullet is reversed the 
German prisoners themselves have told us how it is 
done. The operation is facilitated by the fact that 
the bullet may be readily extracted from its socket, in 
which it is not firmly embedded. Grasping the cart- 
ridge firmly in the hand, and inserting the point of the 
bullet in the end of the rifle barrel, the soldiers are able 



278 Violations of the Laws of War 

to shake and displace the bullet, which becomes de- 
tached in its copper socket and falls out. 

All they have then to do is to put the bullet back, 
head foremost, into the same socket and to press it 
lightly on the base; it is then fixed in position and may 
be fired. 

II. German Evidence 

No. 98 

ORDER of the day by General von Liittwitz, 
concerning explosive bullets. 

4th Army. 

Vouziers, September 15, 1914. 
Luxemburg. 

At Headquarters. 

Near the bridge of Etrepy certain German cartridges 
have been found with grooved points. These come 
under the heading of explosive bullets; they are only 
intended to be used in time of peace on rifle ranges of 
insufficient length, and they have been included in our 
war ammunition by an oversight. 

As the effect of these bullets in penetrating the 
human body is similar to that of a dum-dum bullet, 
the Army Headquarters, wishing to avoid denunciations 
on the part of the French, considers it necessary that 
instructions on the subject should be issued to all terri- 



I 



7 a. 

4&. '&i*Ufi>tKx'. crfuAAj 25". ?. ft. 



No. 98 
279 



280 Germany's Violations 

torial depots for the distribution of ammunition, and 
to other army headquarters. 

By order of the General Commanding the Army, 
{Signed) Baron Von Luttwitz. 

To be noted by 

(i) The Inspectors of Ordnance Stores. 

These should take measures to prevent any explosive 
bullets being forwarded to the front. 

(2) The 6th and 8th Army Corps, and the 8th and 
1 8th Corps of Reserve. 

As far as possible all explosive bullets in the hands 
of the troops are to be destroyed. 

By order of the General Commanding the Army. 

(Signature) 

Headquarters of the 8th Army Corps, 

1 6th September, 19 14, 1st Section No. 
818. 
1 6th Divison. 

Aure, September 25, 1914. 

The above general order to be reproduced for com- 
munication to the following units: 30th Brigade of 
Infantry, 8; 31st Brigade of Infantry, 8; 16th Brigade 
of Field Artillery, 6; 7th Regiment of Hussars, 5; 2d 
and 3d Companies of the 8th Battalion of Pioneers, 8; 
Medical Detachment, 2 ; half regiment of the 9th Un- 
mounted Artillery, 9; Staff of the 3d Division. 



Of the Laws of War 281 

No. 99 

EXTRA CT from a notebook apparently belong- 
ing to Sergeant-Major Kohler of the jth Reserve 
Regiment. 

"Grosses Hauptquartier d. 24. 9. 

' ' Die f ranzosische Heeresleitung hat die Erschiessung 
aller deutscher Offiziere, Beamten, Unteroffiziere und 
Mannschaften angeordnet bei denen dum-dum Ge- 
schosse vorgefunden werden. Alle Militarpersonen 
und Beamten sind daher anzuhalten, sich samt- 
licher Geschosse zu entledigen die etwa als Dum- 
dumgeschosse angesehen werden konnten. Als Dum- 
dumgeschosse konnte auch solche Pistolenmunition 
gelten die nicht mit Vollmantelgeschoss ausgestattet 
ist, sondern an deren Spitze der Mantel abgeschnitten 
und so umgefalzt ist, dass der Bleikern sichtbar war, 
dies soil bei der Munition der Parabellum Pistole z. B. 
der Fall sein. Solche Munition in deren Bleikern 
Locher gebohrt sind kommt auch als Dum-dumgeschoss 
in Frage. Das abgeplattete Vollmantelgeschoss der 
vorschrifts massigen Armeepistole ist nicht als solche 
anzusehen. 

"Feindl. Militarpersonen bei denen Dum-dum oder 
ahnliche Geschosse gefunden werden sind unverzuglich 
zu erschiessen. 

"Urn einwandsfrei festzustellen, wo auf der franzo- 
sischenglischen Front Dum-dumgeschosse verwendet 



^^7- ^f^ffc^ 




IjQll^y/rTp^&hr- V, ■ *■ ft 4"» 



• - . / ' ' i f 

J ^- 









'h~i — I 



No. 99 



282 



Violations of the Laws of War 283 

werden, sind dahingehende Meldungen, wieviel Dum- 
dumgeschosse bei den verschiedenen Armeen erbeutet 
sind, und welchen Truppen sie abgenommen wurden 



sift- sAf -Vv ' yj-^/hr- jk/*^ 




^ . /^Ti^vA^ r£f/%rf7%rya" Jv*J-'™4fc^ 

JUtu- A*~~~M 






No. 99 

baldigst hierherzusenden. Beifiigung von Proben der 
gefundenen D. d. Munition ist erwiinscht. 

"13.10. Unter der Inf. Munition einzelner Mann- 
sch[aften] des Korps sind vereinzelt sowohl Patronen 
der sogenannten Zerscheller Munition als auch Patro- 
nen, deren Spitzen anscheinend durch Bereibung mit 
einem harten Gegenstand geringfugig abgeflacht ist. 
Samtliche Mannschaften sind darauf hinzuweisen, dass 
sie wegen des Dum-dumgeschoss ahnlichen Charakters 



284 Germany's Violations 

dieser Munition sich der Gefahr aussetzen, erschossen 
zu werden, falls sie mit derartiger Munition in Fein- 
deshand fallen." 

' ' From Army Headquarters (24th September) : The 
Commander-in-chief of the French Army has issued 
orders to shoot all officers, military and civil, and all 
non-commissioned officers and men belonging to the 
German forces who shall be found in possession of dum- 
dum bullets. All officers and other persons serving 
with the Army should be warned that they must get 
rid of any ammunition which may by any means be 
considered as coming under the category of dum-dum 
bullets. This description applies, for instance, to 
certain kinds of pistol ammunition of which the bullet 
is not completely covered, that is to say, at the end of 
which the casing has been broken and turned back, so 
that the leaden core is visible; it would seem to apply, 
for instance, to the ammunition used in the 'Parabel- 
lum' revolver. Ammunition in which the leaden core 
is pierced with holes may also be called in question. 
On the other hand, the bullet used in the service re- 
volver with its unbroken, flattened casing cannot be 
included under that heading. 

"Any of the enemy's troops who may be found in 
possession of dum-dum or similar bullets must be shot 
on the spot. 

' ' In order to determine beyond all possibility of doubt 



Of the Laws of War 



285 







/**« 



those points on the Anglo-French front where dum-dum 
bullets are being used, information is immediately to be 
given us as to the number of these projectiles which are 
captured from the different armies, indicating at the 



.Ifk. 4*v~ Afc tyrtMJr.hyf 



No. 99 



***^ *Af 



2^ 



.-." *»&•# jt> 



Iki^t^i fry*. ^<v~^> Jr 



LLL1 fT 'l_ 



same time from what units they have been taken. 
Samples of ammunition thus found should be forwarded 
with the official report. 

"13th October. Amongst the infantry ammunition 
which has been issued to certain men of the corps, 
there is a cartridge known as the ' Zerscheller, ' also 
another type of cartridge, of which the point of the 



286 Violations of the Laws of War 

bullet appears to have been slightly flattened by rub- 
bing with some hard object. 

"Ammunition of this kind is liable to be classified 
as dum-dum bullets, and the men should be warned 
that they run the risk of being shot if captured with 
cartridges of this kind in their possession." 



CHAPTER VII 

USE OF BURNING LIQUIDS AND 
ASPHYXIATING GASES 

THE UNDERTAKINGS GIVEN BY GERMANY 

THE contracting Powers forbid the use of projectiles 
the sole object of which is to disseminate asphyxiating 
or deleterious gases. 

(Declaration of The Hague, July 29, 1899.) 

In addition to the prohibitions provided by special 
Conventions, it is particularly forbidden: 

(a) To employ poison or poisoned weapons; 

(b) To kill or wound by treachery individuals belong- 

ing to the hostile nation or army; 

(c) To employ arms, projectiles, or material calculated 

to cause unnecessary suffering. 

(Regulations of The Hague, art. 23.) 
THE DEEDS OF GERMANY 

No. IOO 

MEMORANDUM by the French Government 
concerning the use of burning liquids by the German 

troops. 

287 



288 Germany's Violations 

Paris, April 29, 1915. 
For some time past, the French military authorities 
have noted the abominable methods used by the Ger- 
man troops against the armies of the Republic, in 
violation of all the undertakings solemnly given by 
the German Imperial Government to the other Powers, 
and in contempt of all the sentiments of humanity. 

The Minister for Foreign Affairs has today the 
honour of communicating to . . . the enclosed docu- 
ment from the German Headquarters Staff of the Second 
Army, Note 32, dated from Saint-Quentin, October 16, 
1 9 14, containing the directions by the German author- 
ities for the use of burning liquids. 

"Headquarters, 
"2d Army, Note 32. "Saint-Quentin, October 16, 1914. 

"The projected attack on the enemy opposite to us 
will, for special considerations, be resumed later, after 
a short interval. 

"It is therefore of great importance that the infor- 
mation gleaned in the course of the fighting at close 
quarters which has just taken place should be summed 
up and brought to the knowledge of all the troops, so 
that on the resumption of the offensive, they may be 
the common property of all officers. 

"With regard to infantry attacks, the corps require 
no new instructions. 

"But in respect of the use of engineers, it is necessary 
to call attention to the following points : 



Of the Laws of War 289 

"Engineers. — General Notice. 

" Attack on fortified positions. 

1 ' Means at the disposal of the Engineers for fighting at 
close quarters. 

"Flame projectors and burning liquids. 

"These will be placed at the disposal of the Army 
Corps according to their requirements by the Comman- 
der-in-Chief. The Corps will at the same time receive 
the skilled operators indispensable for working these 
engines, who will be reinforced, after giving the neces- 
sary instruction, by engineers of the companies chosen 
for this service. 



sen und besteiteh- aus etnej-- klethen Grdhate an ofnem in den 
Lauf zu steckenden Stock* Si e we rden~ bei&Sivm-zw untie rfev 
erhalten dea Geldndes dicht hlnler der Stelluntiverieendetge 
gen die oorrilcXenden Vnterstutzungen. »enn moglich auf SchieB 
gestellen die in den Pionierparksthergestellt werden Mnnen 
.;■ Die Mltmenverfir- $? r e\ Bedientng-ma. dureh besonders aus. 
gebildete Plontere erfolgt. slnd Apperate.die den tragbarew 
lileinen Feuersprttzen dhnf'ln und eine FlusstgXett ausspritzen 
die tefon Feuer fdngt\ Die Flamwenvtellen haben eine Vir 
kungsl&ige und Breite oon\20 n,mrhen sofort tmiich und 
(relben m wet teres BereiQft den Feind durch Xitzentwickelung 
Mur&ek.Da dte Bremdaner\l4 2 Mtn.betragt und Jederxett im-> 
Terbrochen merdm mm, emnfieJil t es'-eioTijnuT etnzelne kurx* 
JFlwmenstbBe zu gebvn umTdaanrch xnhrere Ziele Kit elner 
Fullunoxu bek&»pfen«- Dfir ] Flanaunmerfer toifd hauptsdchltch. ~- 
betm tfauserkawf Yerwndwd finden Und, 1st in der Sturaatellung 
beriit zuhalien .'.:.- 



"Flame projectors are to be used by engineers spe- 
cially trained to handle them ; they are objects resem- 
bling a portable fire extinguisher and eject a liquid 
which at once ignites spontaneously. The waves of 



290 Germany's Violations 

flame have an effective range of twenty square metres. 
Their deadly effect is instantaneous, and they throw 
back the enemy to a considerable distance by means of 
the great heat they generate. As they burn for a 
period of from one and a half to two minutes, and may 
be arrested at will, operators are advised to produce 
short isolated flames, so that they may be able to attack 
at several points with a single supply of the liquid. 
Flame projectors are to be used chiefly in street-fighting, 
and are to be kept in readiness at the point whence an 
attack by storming is delivered, ready for use." 

(Translation certified as a correct rendering of the 
original.) 

(Signed) L. Linard, 
Commandant of Artillery. 

No Government can remain defenceless against such 
refinements of barbarity without endangering the 
safety of its troops. 

The Government of the Republic, governed solely 
by its military exigencies, accordingly proposes to adopt 
every means calculated to prevent the German soldiers 
and military authorities from committing their pre- 
meditated crimes and murders. 

No. 101 

FROM the Minister of War to the Minister of 
Foreign Affairs. 

Paris, May 6, 1915. 
In your despatch of the 3d instant (Directorate of 



Of the Laws of War 291 

Political and Commercial Affairs, Europe, No. 1704), 
you asked me to forward to you the reports and 
documents in my possession concerning the use 
by the Germans of asphyxiating gas on the Yser 
Canal. 

I have the honour to submit the first results of the 
consequent inquiry. 

Attacks by means of asphyxiating gas were made on 
several occasions from April 226. to April 26th against 
the French, English, and Belgian fronts successively, but 
the first, directed against our front on the 22 d, was 
by far the most important. 

The Director of the Municipal Laboratory, M. Kling, 
who was instructed to make an inquiry on the spot 
was able to obtain a certain amount of evidence at 
Dunkirk, Zuydcoote, Houthey, and Ronsebrughe from 
the military authorities, the medical staff, and various 
sufferers, and to examine and analyse a certain amount 
of incriminating material. 

From the general evidence it would seem that the 
asphyxiating medium used by the enemy against our 
lines was chlorine. This gas, according to prisoners 
made in the counter-attack that followed, was con- 
tained in steel cylinders placed at intervals of twenty 
or thirty yards along the trenches, and fitted with a 
tube directed towards our lines. On the days when the 
climatic conditions were favourable, the wind being in 
the north-east, engineers specially trained for this 



292 Germany's Violations 

work turned the taps, and the gas, spreading over the 
surface of the ground, began to flow in the direction of 
the wind in a cloud of varying denseness. 

According to several of the wounded who were present 
at the attack or suffered from its effects, the fumes that 
came from certain trenches were mixed with a black 
smoke, which was very probably used to show the 
assailants just when the asphyxiating cloud reached 
our trenches, and thus to indicate the moment when 
they should be attacked. 

In order to protect them from the return draught of 
the gas to their own trenches, the engineers who worked 
the gas-engines were provided with respirator-helmets. 
The German infantry soldiers who had to attack, had 
each a little pouch of waterproof material containing 
a respirator of grey canvas padded on the inside with 
cotton wool slightly moistened, which was found on 
analysis to be impregnated with hyposulphate of 
sodium. These respirators are fitted closely over the 
nose and mouth by means of strings, so as to absorb 
the greater part of the chlorine mixed with the air, 
and thus to preserve those who wear them from the 
danger of suffocation. 

It was not possible to find out whether this precau- 
tion had been effectual, but according to one German 
prisoner, the majority of the engineers who operated 
were seriously affected, in spite of their protecting 
masks, and "a certain number of them were seen lying 



Of the Laws of War 293 

insensible, with their faces against the ground, beside 
their empty cylinders." 

The inquiry failed to establish with certainty whether 
the Germans used bombs and shells filled with delete- 
rious products, in addition to the noxious gases described. 

Whether the asphyxiating gas, the use of which by 
the German troops has now been established, consists 
solely of chlorine (as M. Kling declares), or of a mixture 
of chlorine and some other noxious gas (as Dr. Magnan, 
Director of the School of Higher Research, Surgeon- 
Major auxiliary attached to the anti-typhic Laboratory 
of the Army, seems to suppose), or finally of some 
mixture of bromine and gaseous hydrochloric acid, as 
certain information furnished by the English Govern- 
ment seems to show, it is none the less certain, in any 
case, that by its use the Germans have once again pro- 
claimed their cynical contempt for clearly formulated 
international agreements. 

Under these circumstances, I think that you should 
acquaint neutral countries with these facts, and draw 
their attention to the violation of the formal regulations 
laid down in the Hague Declaration of July 29, 1899. 

{Signed) A. Millerand. 

No. 102 

REPORT of Superintendent Sieur, Head of the 
Medical Department of the Detachment of the Bel- 
gian Army, to the Inspector-General and Director- 



294 Germany's Violations 

General of the Medical Department, concerning 
the cases of poisoning treated after the attack at 
Langhemarck, April 23, 19 15. 

April 25, 1915. 

On the evening of Friday, April 23d, the troops in the 
first line were suddenly exposed to the action of cor- 
rosive vapours, produced, according to several sufferers 
whom I questioned personally, in the following manner: 

(1) Bombs burst a considerable distance off. Ac- 
cording to the information furnished by a superior officer, 
a jet of clear liquid rose into the air at the moment of 
the explosion, as if the projectile had fallen into a large 
pool of water. Immediately afterwards, this liquid was 
transformed into a greenish yellow gas heavier than 
air, giving off a distinct smell of chlorine. This smell 
persisted for a long time, for certain officers who ar- 
rived with reinforcements some ten or twelve hours 
after the explosion noticed a smell which they compared 
to the fumes of chloride of lime. 

(2) Certain sufferers declared that they saw rockets 
burst which they described as illuminating rockets, 
and these also produced a heavy asphyxiating gas. 

(3) A great many of the sufferers, and notably a 
very intelligent non-commissioned officer, stationed 
in a trench about fifty yards from the German trenches, 
declare that they noticed men wearing masks over 
their faces and furnished with some kind of apparatus 



Of the Laws of War 295 

and with poles, who ejected the same yellowish vapour, 
which was carried by the wind towards the French 
trenches. 

Whatever the method of production, the immediate 
action upon the men enveloped by the poison-cloud was 
manifested by a sensation of suffocation, smarting of 
the eyelids, nostrils, and throat, and a sort of expiratory 
spasm which arrested the normal action of breathing. 
Some of the sufferers seem to have become unconscious, 
and to have been picked up some time after, but in the 
opinion of all those who succeeded in escaping from 
the front line of trenches, which were most exposed to 
the vapour, the majority of the occupants must have 
succumbed very rapidly to the poison. 

The number of sufferers treated for asphyxiation so 
far (thirty-six hours after the event) is . . . Three died 
at the end of twenty-four hours but the majority were 
relieved in from four to five hours. 

From the clinical point of view, the sufferers not 
very violently affected showed the following symptoms : 
redness and swelling of the face, a slight affection of 
the eyelids, a hard, thready pulse (120 to 130), intense 
dyspnoea, and upon examination with the stethoscope, 
a pronounced pulmonary congestion especially at the 
bases of the lungs, marked by short fits of coughing, 
with copious expectoration of a rusty colour.. At the 
beginning this showed streaks of blood, though it never 
presented the character of hemoptysis. 



296 Germany's Violations 

Post-mortem examination of the three victims who 
succumbed within twenty-four hours of the attack re- 
vealed the following injuries: violent congestion of the 
lower part of the trachea; splenization of the lungs 
especially marked at the bases. Incisions showed 
that the lungs were greatly congested and charged with 
blood, and under pressure a large quantity of hematic 
liquid oozed from the pulmonary cells. There was no 
ulceration, either of the nasal mucous membrane, the 
pharynx, or the tracheo-bronchial membrane. As to 
the other viscera, there was slight oedema of the brain, 
but no very characteristic affection either of the liver 
or the kidneys. It may, however, be noted that the 
urine found on one of the sufferers showed traces of 
albumin. 

A searching examination of the blood was made in 
the case of sufferers markedly affected by the poison, 
and the enclosed result of this examination shows a 
slight affection of the hemoglobin, but the use of strong 
reagents failed to demonstrate the presence of excessive 
chlorine, seeing that the blood is normally very rich 
in chloride of sodium. However, further researches 
are in progress. 

To sum up : we found that the patients were suffering 
from poisoning caused by a gaseous substance heavier 
than air, which seems to have been thrown into the 
first line of trenches by means of bombs and asphyxiat- 
ing rockets, and also perhaps by means of a pumping 



Of the Laws of War 297 

apparatus containing a liquid which was in all proba- 
bility liquefied chlorine. 

The last method of use is the one least clearly estab- 
lished by the narratives of the various sufferers inter- 
rogated. Some of these attribute the production of 
the thick toxic cloud which suddenly invaded the front 
trenches to the ignition of some substance, or to a 
chemical reaction caused by the masked soldiers of 
whom they speak. Be this as it may, the factor which 
was most favourable to, or indeed, which perhaps made 
the asphyxiating action of the gas possible, was the 
direction of the wind. 

(Signed) Sieur. 

Inspector-in-Chief of the Medical Service of 
the Belgian Military Detachment. 

No. 103 

CLINICAL, anatomo -pathological and histo- 
chemical study of cases of poisoning by the irritating 
gases used by the Germans at Langhemarck, by 
Doctors R. Dujarric de la Riviere, of the Pasteur 
Institute, and J. Leclercq, Licentiate of the Faculty 
of Medicine of Lille. 

(Bulletin de l'Academie de Medecine, Session of May n, 1915.) 

We had under observation at Calais a relatively con- 
siderable number (112) of soldiers affected by the irri- 
tant gases (bromic and chloric vapours) used by the 
Germans at Langhemarck. In view of the short dis- 
tance between Calais and the front, we were in a very 



298 Germany's Violations 

favourable position to observe these patients only a 
few hours after the attack. 

The sufferers described the conditions under which 
the toxic phenomena appeared: 

The German troops had placed in front of their first line 
of trenches, cylinders, at a distance of from two to four me- 
tres from each other, and from these, at a given moment, 
issued a cloud of vapour, yellow at first and then turning 
green . Driven by a favourable wind , these vapours soon 
reached the French lines, creeping along the ground. 

The soldiers felt at first a violent irritation at the 
level of their eyes in the nostrils, and in the throat, and 
began to cough incessantly. They then experienced 
a sensation of constriction in the thorax, difficulty in 
breathing, and oppression. The throat and trachea 
became very painful. The patients felt an intra- 
thoracic burning. The cough became rapidly more 
painful, persistent, and spasmodic, the expectorations 
copious and tinged with blood in the majority of cases. 
At the same time, these men had a sense of abnormal 
fatigue, and of dimness of sight. Many of their com- 
rades were unable to flee from the "gas- wave"; they 
died, vomiting blood very copiously. Others dragged 
themselves to the rear in an exhausted condition, vomit- 
ing and spitting blood, and passing blood in their urine. 

When admitted to the hospital, most of these soldiers 
looked fatigued and depressed. Their eyes watered, 
their eyelids were swollen, and in some cases there were 



Of the Laws of War 299 

symptoms of conjunctivitis; their cheek-bones and 
lips were purplish, their features drawn and nostrils 
pinched. The patients seemed to be choking and to 
have great difficulty in breathing; they were racked 
by incessant and very painful paroxysms of coughing; 
as they coughed, they held their chests between their 
hands, so acute was the pain caused to the thoracic 
muscles. The cough caused copious expectoration of 
a frothy, reddish character, sometimes with obvious 
traces of blood. Speech was difficult and spasmodic. 
The sight was clouded and there were general 
symptoms of prostration and asthenia. 

The action of the irritant gases produced a variety 
of clinical manifestations. In the majority of cases, 
bronchial or pulmonary phenomena were most in 
evidence. But hepatic or kidney affections were fairly 
frequent, and sometimes more pronounced than any 
other symptoms, though generally associated with 
broncho-pulmonary trouble. 

The pulmonary affections of the majority of our 
patients were not very serious. They consisted for 
the most part of inflammation of the whole respiratory 
system, extending to the most minute of the bronchial 
ramifications. In some of the sufferers, the pulmonary 
affection was very intense, as was shown by certain cases 
of broncho-pneumonia, and more especially of pulmonary 
gangrene, the complete evolution of which we followed. 

Two patients were tabulated as suffering from hemo- 



300 Violations of the Laws of War 

lytic icterus (jaundice) ; a third passed hemoglobin in 
his urine for several days. In several patients there was 
persistent albuminuria. The majority of the sufferers 
passed concentrated urine, highly coloured and con- 
taining numerous biliary pigments. 

The histo-chemical and bacteriological examination 
of the sputa enabled us to follow, as it were, step by 
step, the evolution of the bronchial and pulmonary 
affections. Characterized at first by the presence of 
desquamative and polynuclear elements, the formula 
of the sputa was soon modified to show congestion 
and in some cases necrosis of the lungs. 

At the outset in the majority of cases, the bacterial 
flora was insignificant; it is, however, important to 
note that a certain number of sputa contained anaerobes 
and in particular, Bacillus perfringens. In the cases 
of pulmonary gangrene we followed, the bacterial flora 
was very rich in anaerobes (B. perfringens, B. serpens, 
B. ramosus). 

Finally, the post-mortem examination of a sufferer 
who died of pneumonia confirmed the data of the 
clinic and the laboratory. This post-mortem revealed 
the general signs of poisoning by irritant gases; serious 
congestion of all the respiratory organs, abnormal 
vascularization of the alimentary canal, degeneration 
in bulk of the liver, the spleen, and the kidneys. It also 
showed pneumonic thickening of the right lung, with 
partial gangrene of the base of this lung. 



CHAPTER VIII 

BOMBARDMENT OF FORTRESSES WITHOUT 
NOTICE, AND OF OPEN TOWNS; DEST^ UC- 
TION OF BUILDINGS DEDICATED TO 
PUBLIC WORSHIP, ART, SCIENCE, OR 
CHARITABLE PURPOSES 

THE UNDERTAKINGS GIVEN BY GERMANY 

THE attack or bombardment, by any means whatever, 
of undefended towns, villages, dwellings, or buildings, 
is forbidden. 

The officer in command of an attacking force must do 
all in his power to warn the authorities before commencing 
a bombardment, except in cases of assault. 

In sieges and bombardments all necessary steps must 
be taken to spare, as far as possible, buildings dedicated 
to public worship, art, science, or charitable purposes, 
historic monuments, hospitals, and places where sick and 
wounded are collected, provided they are not being used 
at the time for military purposes. 

Family honour and rights, individual life and private 
property as well as religious convictions and worship 
must be respected. 

(Articles 25, 26, 27, and 46 of the Regulations of The Hague.) 
301 



302 Germany's Violations 

THE DEEDS OF GERMANY 

The German army, in France as in Belgium, bom- 
barded and destroyed so many towns and villages, so 
many buildings dedicated to art, science, and chari- 
table purposes, without any military purpose, and these 
crimes have been so openly committed in the sight 
of the world that it will be unnecessary to cite many 
documents here. 

We shall therefore be content to reproduce the memo- 
randum addressed by the Government of the Republic 
to the Powers, at the beginning of the war, protesting 
against the first bombardment of the town of Pont-a- 
Mousson, and two of the documents relating to the 
bombardment of Reims Cathedral. 

No. 104 

MEMORANDUM addressed to the Powers by 
the French Government on the 16th August, 1914. 

The Government of the French Republic has the honour 
to bring to the knowledge of the Powers signatory of 
The Hague Convention the facts hereinafter stated, 
which constitute a violation by the German military 
authorities of the Convention signed on the 18th Octo- 
ber, 1907, by the Imperial German Government. 

At 3.30 a.m. on the nth August, from 10 a.m. till 
noon on the 12th August, and from 4 a.m. to 6 a.m. on 
the 14th August, without any warning or preliminary 



Of the Laws of War 303 

notice, the open and undefended town of Pont-a- 
Mousson (Meurthe-et-Moselle), a place of 13,000 in- 
habitants, was bombarded by the German forces 
under the following conditions : 

The bombardment was carried out by means of guns 
placed in position and concealed on the other side of 
the frontier. A captive balloon stationed above the 
batteries enabled them to get the range accurately. 
The fire was directed more particularly towards the 
hospital, a historic building, duly marked by the Red 
Cross flag. 

The shells which fell in the town killed seven persons 
and wounded eight others, all women and children. 

The Conventions of The Hague have thus been 
violated in the following particulars : 

(1) The bombardment was directed against an open 
and undefended town (Article 25 of the Rules appended 
to Convention 4 of The Hague). 

(2) The bombardment took place without prelimi- 
nary notice (Article 26 of the Rules appended to Con- 
vention 4 of The Hague). 

(3) It was specially directed against a hospital and 
a historic building (Article 27 of the Rules appended 
to Convention 4 of The Hague). 

It is impossible to conceive any reason for this bom- 
bardment; it was not preceded by any demand for the 
surrender of the place, nor was it followed by any sur- 
render, nor by its occupation by the enemy's forces, 



304 Germany's Violations 

which did not even make their appearance before the 
town. It must therefore be regarded as an act of 
wanton cruelty. 

No. 105 

MEMORANDUM by the Vicar-General, Lan- 
drieux and M. R. Thinot, Chapel-master of 
Reims Cathedral, concerning the burning and 
bombardment of the cathedral, September 17-19, 
1914. 

(1) There was nothing to justify the bombardment of 
the cathedral, either on Saturday the 19th September 
(the day of the fire) nor on the previous days. No 
anti-aircraft guns had ever been placed in position 
there, much less any heavy artillery, nor had the build- 
ing given shelter to any troops. Neither men nor 
munitions of war had ever been stationed in its imme- 
diate vicinity; it was not used as a post of military 
observation. 

It is perfectly true, however, that the Germans, 
towards the end of their occupation of Reims, had 
used the north tower as an observation post. T 

1 The White Flag which was flown from the north tower at the time 
of the bombardment of September 4th, remained there until the day after 
the departure of the Germans. On the morning of the 13th, it was 
removed (at the same time as the Red Cross flag, which had been flown 
from the same flagstaff on the Saturday by the Germans) and replaced 
by the French national flag, which until the morning of Thursday, 
September 27th, remained alone floating over Notre-Dame. That morn- 



Of the Laws of War 305 

(2) The German artillery directed their aim pur- 
posely towards the cathedral and bombarded it system- 
atically on the 17th, 1 8th, and 19th September. It 
is possible to admit, perhaps, that the shells which had 
previously struck it (4th September) and those which 
damaged it later (24th September and 12th October) 
may have hit it by accident. 

(3) As regards this attack upon the cathedral, it is 
difficult to deny premeditation. On the contrary, 
there is proof of it in the language which was used by 
the German Press both before and after the event. x 

The enemy has shown no scruples of any sort, either 
humanitarian or aesthetic. 

At a time when Reims was swarming with spies who 
kept the enemy well informed, seventy to eighty Ger- 
man wounded were openly carried into the cathedral 
and laid there on the very same straw which the Prussian 
authorities had caused to be placed in the building. 
From and after this moment two Red Cross flags were 
displayed on the north tower. 



ing, as it will be stated later on, two Red Cross flags and on the follow- 
ing day, a third were flown alongside of the Tricolour. During the 
following weeks the largest of these was carried away by the wind; 
the other two are still flying. 

'Extract from the Berliner Blatt of September 5, 191 4 (No. 208): 
" The portion of our Armies in the West of France has already passed 
the second line of the defending fortifications with the exception of 
Reims. The royal splendour of this city, dating back to the time of the 
White Lilies, will of a certainty soon crumble in the dust beneath the 
blows of our 42 centimetre shells." 



306 Germany's Violations 

As regards the German contempt for all aesthetic 
considerations, the announcement recently made public 
by General von Disfurth in the Tag affords sufficient 
confirmation of the accuracy of our statement. He 
wrote as follows: 

"It is beneath our dignity to defend our troops 
against unjust accusations, whether coming from within 
or without. Neither we nor our troops owe any expla- 
nation to anybody ; we have nothing to justify, nothing 
to excuse. Everything which our soldiers may do to 
injure the enemy and to win victory for our flag will be 
justified in advance and considered as well done ; at 
least that is how we must regard it. We need not con- 
cern ourselves in the very least with the opinion of other 
countries, even of neutrals. And if all the monuments 
and all the masterpieces of architecture which stand 
between our guns and those of the enemy were to be 
blown to the devil, we should not care a straw. The 
thing is not worth a moment's discussion. Mars is 
master of the day, not Apollo. Let them call us bar- 
barians if they like; we can laugh at them. At the 
worst, we may have to ask ourselves whether we have 
not deserved the name . . . but let them, for Heaven's 
sake, spare us once and for all any more of this idle 
chatter. Let them talk no more of the Cathedral of 
Reims, nor of all the churches and palaces which may 
share its fate. We have heard enough of them. Let 
us hear from Reims only the news of a second and 



Of the Laws of War 307 

victorious entry of our troops. Nothing else matters 
to us in the very least." 

The enemy only held their hand when their evil work 
had evidently been completed. 

To state, as the German communiques have done, 
that only a single shot from a mortar, and a few can- 
non-shots, were fired against the cathedral is to lie 
with exceptional impudence. At least forty shells 
struck the building, most of them projectiles of 
very large calibre. There is therefore far more truth 
in the statement published by the "Official Press 
Agency of Berlin" on the 20th September to the effect 
that at a certain date "the heavy artillery received 
orders to destroy the cathedral." 

Further, when the scaffolding of the north-west angle 
was blazing furiously, when it was evident that no 
human power could avert the disaster, and that the 
building was doomed, two more shells crashed upon the 
roof, one on the nave, the other on the apse, and 
the latter certainly caused a second outbreak of fire. 

II 

The material facts may be summed up as follows, 
as the result of notes taken on the spot, which can be 
supported by photographs : 

(1) On Friday the 4th September, the day before the 
entry of the enemy, the city was bombarded for an 
hour "as the result of an error," as the Germans put it. 



308 Germany's Violations 

They added, moreover, that they were scrupulously 
careful "to spare the cathedral." Nevertheless, it is 
undeniably true that the line along which their pro- 
jectiles fell extended in front of and behind the edifice, 
coming steadily nearer and nearer to it. One shell hit 
it full (on the base of the gable of the north transept), 
and three others inflicted serious damage on the sculp- 
tures of the west porch and on the windows, particularly 
those of the north aisle. 

A doubtful method this of sparing an architectural 
treasure, for which the Germans subsequently pro- 
fessed their great respect ! What they did was to com- 
mit a flagrant violation of Article 56 of the Regulations 
appended to The Hague Convention, signed by Ger- 
many, which says : ' ' The property of public bodies and 
of establishments consecrated to religion, to works of 
benevolence and education, as well as those devoted to 
arts and sciences, even when belonging to the State, 
shall be regarded as private property. Any intentional 
seizure, destruction, or damage of such buildings, of 
historic monuments, or of scientific and artistic works, 
is prohibited and should form the subject of proceedings. 

(2) On the 17th, 1 8th, and 19th September the cathe- 
dral was the target at which the German gunners 
aimed. It was then just as easy for them to hit that 
object as it would have been to avoid it before, having 
in view the size of the mark offered by a structure which 
measured 150 yards long by 6 yards wide at the transept. 



Of the Laws of War 309 

(a) Three shells hit the building during the course of 
the day on the 17th September. One fell on the stone 
gallery and the roof of the north transept; another did 
similar damage to the apse on the north side; a third 
shattered the windows of the radial chapels in the apse. 

(b) On Friday the 18th, thirteen shells hit the cathe- 
dral, many of them in its vital parts : the great pointed 
windows in the south aisle, in the north transept, and 
in the apse are ruined, some of them being completely 
stripped of their ancient glass; the buttresses on the 
south side are mutilated in their lower courses; the 
beautiful pinnacles which surmount them have been 
beheaded partly or wholly; a large flying buttress at 
the angle of the apse and the north transept has been 
completely demolished; the stone gallery which crowns 
the edifice has been damaged in several new places; a 
winding staircase in a stone tower is destroyed, and 
many blocks of masonry have been hurled down upon 
the roofs or through the gaping windows into the 
building. 

Twice that day, and once on the following day, it 
became necessary to place under shelter, in the portion 
of the cathedral which seemed to offer the best protec- 
tion, the terror-stricken wounded on their beds of straw. 
In spite of these precautions, several casualties, caused 
by grape-shot, occurred. 

(c) On Saturday the 19th, no fewer than sixteen 
shells, or eighteen if we count those which fell when the 



3io Germany's Violations 

fire was already at its height, struck the cathedral and 
aggravated the ravages already committed. 

Words fail me to describe the terrific effect on the 
engines of destruction that assailed the building, and 
the horrors of the conflagration they brought about on 
the same day, at about a quarter to four in the after- 
noon. In less than an hour the tornado of flame had 
devoured all that it was possible for it to devour of the 
venerable monument. The work of this fatal evening 
can only be indicated in general terms. The beautiful 
fifteenth-century timber roof reinforced with strips of 
lead was completely destroyed; the metal, melting in 
the heat, overflowed the gutters, and poured down in a 
molten stream from the gargoyles; the graceful angel 
belfry with the quaint figures around it has perished ; the 
thirteenth-century glass of the upper windows of the 
apse and the nave, as well as that of the great rose- 
window and of the gallery known as that of the Kings 
is terribly shattered or completely pulverized ; the cele- 
brated sculptures of the left porch, a portion of those 
of the central porch, and all the exquisite detail of the 
storeys above them are in a state of indescribable 
dilapidation; the ornament of the two side porches, 
a specimen of interior decoration, unique of its kind in 
France, is obliterated ; all the stones of the building on 
a level with the upper and lower roofs are split to a 
great depth; great scales stand out upon them, ready 
to fall off at the first touch of rough weather; the eight 



Of the Laws of War 311 

master bells and those of the chime are either broken 
or split ; the woodwork and stalls (eighteenth century) 
of the choir; the carpet of the coronation of Charles X. ; 
the archi-episcopal throne, seats, etc., are all in ashes. 

(3) On Thursday, 24th September (the day fol- 
lowing the fire), three more shells hit the cathedral, the 
second of them falling on the roof of the crossing, which 
had been laid bare by the fire. On Monday, the 12th 
October, another shell of very large calibre destroyed 
a length of eight yards of the heavy gallery which sur- 
rounds the apse; no such considerable damage had up 
till then been done by any single projectile. 

In closing this rapid summary, I must note that the 
murder of the Cathedral is but the most odious episode 
of the bombardment inflicted upon Reims without the 
smallest justification, at the beginning of the invasion. 
This bombardment spared neither churches (Saint- 
Remi in particular), works of art, nor hospitals. 
{Signed) M. Landrieux, 

Vicar-General, Arch-Priest. 

{Signed) R. Thinot, 

Chapel Master of the Cathedral. 

No. 106 

NOTE by General Rouquerol on the position of 
the batteries at Reims, in relation to the Cathedral. 

Reims, November 9, 1914. 

The nearest of our batteries to the Cathedral is situated 
at a distance of 1200 yards from this monument. 



312 Germany's Violations 

Therefore, even supposing that the battery or batteries 
of the enemy which continue to fire in the direction of 
the Cathedral are in a straight line with the Cathedral 
and the French battery, they should never send in the 
direction of the monument anything more than a few 
trial shots to determine the range. The German artil- 
lerymen are far too good at their work to keep up a 
regular fire on the Cathedral itself, when the object at 
which they are supposed to be aiming is 1200 yards 
from this monument. 

On the 19th September, when the principal bombard- 
ment took place, which set fire to the outer scaffolding 
and accounted for nearly all the damage done, the 
French batteries nearest to the Cathedral were situated 
close beside the position above referred to, which the 
President of the Council has examined today. 

So long as our troops remain at Reims there must be 
grave objections from a military point of view to stat- 
ing the positions of our batteries more accurately, or 
to giving a sketch of the position. 

{Signed) Rouquerol. 

No. 107 

List of the men, women, and children killed or in- 
jured by the explosion of bombs thrown upon Paris 
and the suburbs by German aircraft from August 30 
to October 12, 19 14. (The List is taken from the 
report drawn up by N. Lescouve, Public Prosecutor.) 



Of the Laws of War 313 

Bombs dropped, August 30th, rue des Vinaigriers; Rue 
des Recollets; Quai Valmy; Rue des Marais. 
Killed. Mme. Virgine Potvin. 

Wounded. Mme. Lamontagne, Mme. Blanche 
Meley, Mme. Harcelle. 

Bomb dropped, September 1st, Rue de Moscou. 
Killed. Mile. Suzanne Boudet. 
Wounded. Mme. Bigot. 
Bomb dropped, September 1st, Rue Auger, Pantin. 

Killed. M. Jules Bertin. 
Bomb dropped, September 1st, Rue de la Condamine. 
Wounded. Mme. Havez, M. Emile Luce, M. Paul 
Grout, M. Rachel, Mile. Viviane Demele, Mme. 
Brillaux. 

Bomb dropped, September 2d, Rue des Martyrs. 

Killed. M. Pierre Marceau. 
Bomb dropped, September 2d, Rue d'Orchamps. 

Killed. M. Edouard Prato. 
Bomb dropped, September 27th, Rue Freycinet. 
Killed. M. Hocquet. 
Wounded. Mile. Denise Cartier. 
Bomb dropped, October 8th, Boulevard Ney. 

Wounded. M. Alphonse Boulogne, Mme. Berthe 
Boulogne, Roger Gautier (aged two years). 

Bomb dropped, October II, Rue du Faubourg Saint- 
Antoine. 
Killed. M. Robert Laferriere, Mile. Nina Kahn. 
Wounded. M. Francois Heriot, M. Charles Trurn- 



314 Violations of the Laws of War 

bert, M. Moise Benveniste, M. Emile Brisedoux, M. 
Salomon Binuese, Mile. Elisabeth Flamant, Mme. 
Bruxelle, Mile. Petitjean, Mile. Hurteaux, Mile. Henos, 
Mile. Rossinelli, Mile. Monkes, M. di Pavlo, Mile. Cre. 
Bomb dropped, October 1 1 , Rue de l'Aqueduc. 

Killed. M. Prosper Barres, M. Maurice Labbe, 
Mme. Augustine Hoffmann. 

Wounded. Mile. Lea Baudry, M. Andre Beuvit, 
Mile. Denise Delnuce. 



CHAPTER IX 
TREACHEROUS METHODS OF WARFARE 

UNDERTAKINGS GIVEN BY GERMANY 

IT is expressly forbidden: to kill or wound treacherously 
individuals belonging to the nation or army of the enemy. 
A belligerent is likeivise forbidden to compel the subjects 
of the hostile party to take part in the operations of war 
directed against their own country. 

(Extract from Article 23 of the Regulations of The Hague.) 
THE DEEDS OF GERMANY 

I. French Evidence 

No. 108 

STATEMENT by Private Cabioch of the 321st 
Regiment of Infantry {Reserve), describing the 
circumstances under which certain prisoners were 
placed in front of the German troops. 

The undersigned Cabioch, Reservist of the 321st Regi- 
ment of Infantry, hereby declares that, having been made 
prisoner by the Germans, in company with several other 
soldiers, following upon a bayonet assault, he and his 
comrades were compelled to form part of the line of Ger- 
man skirmishers under the following circumstances: 

315 



316 Germany's Violations 

"At 8 p.m. on the 13th September a considerable 
portion of the 4th section of the 24th Company of the 
32 1 st Regiment of Infantry Reserve was taken prisoner, 
during an engagement which took place about 1000 
yards to the north-east of the farm of Confrecourt (3 
kilometres south-west from Nouvion). Immediately 
afterwards several German soldiers, whose rank the 
witness was unable to distinguish, put the prisoners into 
the front line, threatening them with their revolvers. 

' ' Firing then became brisk between the German lines 
and those of the French close to them. The witness 
having had occasion to notice that the Germans had left 
behind them such French prisoners as were wounded, 
dropped to earth after running a few yards, and pre- 
tended to be seriously wounded. Thus he remained 
lying on the ground, and on the following day at about 
4 A.M. succeeded in returning to the French lines in 
company with Corporal Boutry of the same section, 
who had been wounded. He declares that several of 
his comrades fell, either killed or wounded, at the place 
where the Germans had put them into the front rank." 

{Signed) Jean Cabioch. 

The foregoing declaration has been made and signed 
this day by the witness in the presence of Captain Robert, 
undersigned, of the Staff of the 7th Army Corps. 

(Signed) Robert, 

Headquarters of the 7th Army Corps, at 
Montigny-1 'Engrain, September 21st. 



Of the Laws of War 317 

No. 109 

DEPOSITION of four soldiers of the 216th 
Regiment of Infantry (Reserve) , describing how on 
September 20th, French prisoners were exposed to 
the fire of the French troops. 

The undersigned: Jean Talou, Corporal in the 216th 
Regiment of Infantry (Reserve), and Jean-Pierre Degruel, 
Pierre Thevenet, and Pierre Prost, Privates in the same, de- 
clare that having been made prisoners by the Germans, they 
and several ocher soldiers were forcibly placed by the 
Germans against their will in front of the German lines, 
under the following circumstances : 

' ' On September 20th, between four and five o'clock, 
being in a sort of trench formed by the edge of a ditch 
near the farm of Confrecourt (three kilometres south- 
west of Novion), they were suddenly surrounded by 
German soldiers who made them prisoners and took 
them to an adjacent haystack. A few minutes after 
a German column of about 500 men, in formation of 
fours, advanced in silence, as if for the purpose of sur- 
rounding the farm. The officer at the head of this 
column, noticing the prisoners and their guard, ordered 
them briefly to advance towards the ditch whence they 
had come, threatening them with his revolver. The 
German soldiers hereupon hurried the prisoners to the 
edge of the ditch, which formed a parapet, put them in 
line in their own ranks, and opened fire upon the French 



318 Germany's Violations 

lines. Volleys were exchanged on either side, in the 
course of which French soldiers were struck by French 
bullets. Among them were the following : 
" Lieutenant X . . . killed. 
"Sergeant Lasabliere, wounded. 
"Corporals Baster and Noailly, wounded. 
"The two sappers, Ravassart and Malard, wounded. 
"The two soldiers Machon and Bertoix, wounded. 
' ' The French soldiers were kept in this position until 
2 p.m. when they were rescued during a counter attack 
by some battalions of Alpine Chasseurs." 

{Signed) Jean Talou, Corporal, telephonist, 
Pierre Thevenet, 
Pierre Prost, 
Jean-Pierre Degruel. 

This deposition was made and signed this day by the 
witnesses, in the presence of Captain Robert, of the Staff 
of the 7th Army Corps. 

{Signed) Robert, 

Headquarters of the 7th Army Corps, at 
Montigny-1 'Engrain, September 21st. 

No. no 

EXTRACTS from report by Lieutenant-Colonel 
Payerne, commanding the 68th Regiment of In- 
fantry, to the General in command of the gth Army 
Corps on occurrences which took place on the 
front of the 68th Regiment, September 25-26, 19 14. 



Of the Laws of War 319 

Prosnes, October 5, 1914. 

In compliance with the instructions contained in service 
order No. 1041 of the 9th Army Corps, dated 3d inst., 
I have the honour to forward the following supplement- 
ary information, having reference to the events which 
took place on the 25th .and 26th September, on the 
front of the 1st, 3d, and 9th Companies of the 68th 
Regiment. 

On the 25th September at about 6.30 p.m. Major 
Bardoller with the 1st, 3d, and 9th Companies pro- 
ceeded to the assault of the German trenches opposite 
to his lines, 1200 yards to the north-east of Hill 98. 
He took them, entrenched himself on the ground, and, 
preceded by scouts, pushed on into the wood with the 
1st and 9th Companies. 

At about 7.30 p.m., after a counter-attack by the 
Germans, a certain number of men belonging to these 
French companies, and in particular to the 9th which 
was on our left, were made prisoners (about fifty men). 
The rest of the companies were brought back to hold 
the German trenches, where they remained till dawn 
without being attacked. 

During the night of the 25th of September, the pris- 
oners, who had been disarmed by the Germans, were 
employed in making a trench opposite to the French 
lines. Corporal Devergne of the 9th Company has 
certified to this fact. At dawn the Germans made a 
further attack on the front of the 9th, 1st, and 3d 



3 20 Germany's Violations 

Companies. In this attack they compelled the prison- 
ers whom they had taken on the previous evening to 
march in front of them, forming them up in columns 
of fours, surrounded by the Germans in column. They 
were followed at a distance of about 150 yards by a 
line of skirmishers which, in its turn, was followed by 
troops in sections by fours. To this also Corporal 
Devergne has testified. 

Moreover, he states that the men of the 1st Company 
opposite to which he found himself amongst the prison- 
ers in column formation, hesitated to fire on seeing the 
Frenchmen. Eventually, however, they opened fire 
on the German columns to the right and left, whereupon 
the Germans, having suffered several casualties, re- 
formed around the prisoners and fell back with them. 
A little later, Corporal Devergne was able to escape and 
to rejoin the 1st Company. 

Sub- Lieutenant Terrier of the 1st Company, which 
was attacked by the Germans at dawn, declares that he 
saw the Germans threatening the prisoners with revolvers 
and rifles, and occasionally firing to compel them to 
march in front of them. Adjutant Defour, of the same 
company, confirms the statement of Lieutenant Terrier. 

Sub-Lieutenant Gallet, of the 8th Company, was in 
reserve behind the 1st Company. He was sent up with 
his section to disengage the right of the 1st Company, 
which was in danger of envelopment. He made a 
counter-attack on the Germans, killing two officers, 



Of the Laws of War 321 

whose field-glasses he brought back, and driving back 
the German left. He also witnessed the incident 
described above and confirms the two other witnesses. 

On our left the German counter-attack, extending 
along the front held by the 1st Company to that of the 
9th (Lieutenant Foujanet), was screened by French 
prisoners, for which reason the non-commissioned officers 
hesitated to open fire, and a slight rearward movement 
took place. This, however, was rapidly checked. 

This German attack at dawn was, in fact, repulsed, 
thanks to the intervention of the section of the 8th 
Company on the right of the 1st Company, and also to 
the effectual, though somewhat tardy, fire of the 1st 
Company in the trenches. 

CONCLUSIONS 

The interrogatory made by me has elicited the fol- 
lowing certain facts: 

(1) The Germans forced disarmed French prisoners 
to work during the night of the 25th, and made them 
dig a trench opposite to the French trenches. 

The French obeyed this order quietly (Deposition 
of Corporal Devergne). 

(2) At daybreak, the German counter-attacking 
force was preceded by the French prisoners, who were 
threatened by the Germans with revolvers to make them 
advance (Deposition of Captain de Salvador, Sub-Lieut- 
enants Terrier and Gallet, and Adjutant Dufour). 



322 Germany's Violations 

(3) None of the three or four men who escaped with 
Corporal Dufour are to be found among the units of the 
68th Regiment. They must have been killed in the 
fighting of the following days. 

(4) Neither Corporal Devergne nor the non-com- 
missioned officers engaged on the 25th and 26th could 
give me the number of the regiment which made use of 
the French prisoners. 

Corporal Devergne stated in an earlier report that 
the regiments which were opposed to the 68th were the 
157th (this has been definitely ascertained) and prob- 
ably the i62d and 163d. Lieutenant Foujanet has, 
moreover, stated in his report that he had to deal with 
the 4th Regiment of the Guard (Augusta Regiment) . 

We, the undersigned, hereby declare and certify 
that the facts which we have set down in the above 
report are the simple truth. 

Signed by Major Salvador, Lieutenant 
Foujanet, Lieutenant Terrier, Sub- 
Lieutenant Gallet, Adjutant Dufour, 
and Corporal Devergne 

No. in 

REPORT forwarded by Lieutenant Aucour to 
the Colonel commanding the 2d Regiment of 
Dragoons, describing the circumstances in which 
a detachment of German infantry used two women 
as a screen on October 19, 19 14, in Belgium. 



Of the Laws of War 323 

Vestrossbeck (Belgium), October 19, 1914. 
I have the honour to inform you that at 2 p.m. on the 
19th October, having taken up a position with my 
platoon near to a barricade which I was defending at 
the north-west outlet from Roulers (Belgium), there 
appeared before me a vanguard detachment of German 
infantry. This troop consisting of only seven or eight 
men was commanded by an officer, who was driving 
in front of him two women, one of whom held a baby 
in her arms, which she was endeavouring to protect 
with a red garment rolled into a bundle. For fear of 
hitting either of the poor women, I hesitated to open 
fire on these soldiers, but eventually, fearing the arrival 
of reinforcements, I directed certain good shots to fire 
independently, telling them to aim rather high. . . . 
This had the result of dispersing the enemy. I 
report this incident, to be used as may seem fit. It 
is probable, to judge by the prisoners whom we 
had taken on the previous evening, that the unit in 
question belonged to the 213th or 214th Regiment of 
Landwehr. 

{Signed) Aucour. 

Signed also by the following witnesses: 

Chambet, Girier, Metzinger, and the rest of my 
platoon, Pous, Lamuy. 

{Signed) Schultz, 

Colonel commanding the 2d Dragoons. 
Guaranteeing the signatures of the above witnesses, all 
of whom belong to the regiment. 



324 Germany's Violations 

Briler, 215/ October, 1914. 
Seen and forwarded: 

{Signed) Lapeyriere, 

General commanding the 5th Brigade of Dragoons. 

No. 112 

REPORT of Major Hennoegen to the Major com- 
manding the 354/^ Infantry Regiment, describing 
the manner in which certain German soldiers used 
women and children as a screen on September 23, 
1914. 

In reporting the number of officers killed and wounded 
in my battalion on September 23, 19 14, i. e. : 

Blondet, Lieutenant, Reserve, killed, 

Champlauvier, Captain, killed, 

Vignoli, Lieutenant, Reserve, wounded, 

Courtois, Sub-Lieutenant, Reserve, wounded, 
I wish to record a circumstance which it would be well 
to communicate to headquarters. 

During the attack of the village of Autriche which 
Lieutenant Courtois had entered with his section, he 
saw that all the women and children of the place were 
put at the windows, with the Germans behind them. 

Thus the Germans fired on our soldiers who were 
unable to return their fire. 

Lieutenant Courtois was wounded under the fol- 
lowing conditions: Arriving at a house at the corner 
of a street, he was stopped by several Germans who 



Of the Laws of War 325 

were at the windows, and one of them called out to him 
in good French: "Lieutenant, surrender!" "Ground 
arms!" cried M. Courtois to him. At this answer he 
and some dozen of his men were struck down by a volley. 
This is another fact which will attest the barbarity 
of these savages before the world. 

{Signed) Hennoegen. 

II. German Evidence 

No. 113 

LETTER written by Lieutenant A. Eberlein, a 
Bavarian officer, and published on the yth October 
1 9 14, in the " Vorabendblatt" of the "Miinchener 
neuste Nachrichten." 

". . . Aber drei andere Zivilisten haben wir verhaf- 
tet und da kommt mir ein guter Gedanke. Sie werden 
auf Stuhle gesetzt und ihnen bedeutet, einen Sitzplatz 
mitten in der Strasse zu nehmen. Handeringen und 
Flehen auf der einen, ein paar Gewehrkolben auf der 
anderen Seite. Man wird allmahlich furchtbar hart. 
Dann sitzen sie draussen auf der Strasse. Wie viele 
Stossgebete sie losgelassen, weiss ich nicht, aber ihre 
Hande sind die ganze Zeit kramphaft gefaltet. 

"So leid sie mir tun, aber das Mittel hilft sofort. 

"Das Flankenfeuer aus den Hausern lasst sofort 
nach, wir konnen jetzt auch das gegen tiberliegende 
Haus besetzen und sind damit die Herren der Haupt- 



326 Germany's Violations 

strasse. Was sich jetzt noch auf der Strasse zeigt, 
wird niedergeschossen. Auch die Artillerie hat unter- 
dessen kraftig gearbeitet, und als gegen 7 Uhr abends 
die Brigade zum Sturm vorruckt, um uns zu befreien, 
kann ich die Meldung erstatten : ' St. Die vom Gegner 
frei!' Wie ieh spater erfuhr, hat das. . . . Reserve- 
Regiment, das nordlich von uns in St. Die eindrang, 
ganz ahnliche Erfahrungen gemacht wie wir. Ihre vier 
Zivilisten, die sie ebenfalls auf die Strasse setzten, 
wurden von den Franzosen erschossen. Ich habe sie 
selbst am Krankenhaus mitten in der Strasse liegen 
sehen." 

Oberleutnant A. Eberlein. 

October 7, 1914. 

"But we arrested three other civilians and then I had 
a brilliant idea. We gave them chairs, and we then 
ordered them to go and sit out in the middle of the 
street. On their part, pitiful entreaties; on ours, a few 
blows from the butt-end of the rifle. Little by little 
one becomes terribly callous at this business. At last 
they were all seated outside in the street. I do not 
know what anguished prayers they may have said, but 
I noticed that their hands were convulsively clasped 
the whole time. I pitied these fellows, but the method 
was immediately effective. 

"The flank-fire from the houses quickly diminished, 
so that we were able to occupy the opposite house and 



Of the Laws of War 327 

thus to dominate the principal street. Every living 
being who showed himself in the street was shot. The 
artillery on its side had done good work all this time, 
and when, toward seven o'clock in the evening, the 
brigade advanced to the assault to relieve us, I was in 
a position to report that Saint-Die had been cleared of 
the enemy. 

"Later on I learned that the regiment of reserve 
which entered Saint-Die farther to the north had tried 
the same experiment. The four civilians whom they 
had compelled, in the same way, to sit out in the street, 
were killed by French bullets. I myself saw them 
lying in the middle of the street, near the hospital." 

{Signed) A. Eberlein. 

First Lieutenant. 



CHAPTER X 

CRUELTIES INFLICTED ON THE CIVIL 
POPULATION 

THE UNDERTAKING GIVEN BY GERMANY 

li FAMILY honour and rights, individual life, and 
private property, as well as religious convictions and 
worship, must be respected" 

(Article 46 of the Regulations of The Hague.) 

THE DEEDS OF GERMANY 

No. 114 

REPORT of Lieutenant Hurel upon cruelties 
committed by the Germans at the attack on Pont- 
a-Celles. 

On August 21, 1 9 14, the 3d Platoon of the 3d Cyclist 
Section was defending the northern boundary of the 
suburb of Pont-a-Celles, facing Orbais. Lieutenant 
Hurel was at this boundary with a section. The Ger- 
mans were setting fire to houses before debouching 
from Orbais. The inhabitants of this village, men, 

women, and children, were fleeing towards Pont-a-Celles 

328 



Violations of the Laws of War 329 

screaming. Dismounted cavalrymen were pursuing 
them and firing upon them. According to the in- 
habitants two men and a woman were killed. Lieu- 
tenant Hurel could not order his Chasseurs to fire, for 
fear of wounding the inhabitants of Orbais. He himself 
fired at one of the cavalrymen, which put the other 
Germans to flight. 

AULNOYE, August 24, I914. 

(Signed) Lieutenant Hurel. 

Transmitted according to Ministerial Instructions, 
by General de Lastoue. 

No. 115 

REPORT by Col. Huguet, head of the French 
Military Mission attached to the British Expedi- 
tionary Force, to the General Commander-in-Chief 
of the French Army at Chdtillon-sur- Seine concern- 
ing the murder of three civilians at Hartennes 
(Aisne). 

Fere-en-Tardenois, September 23, 1914. 

I have the honour to forward herewith a report which 
has been handed to me by the English General Staff, 
having reference to the murder of three French civilians 
by Uhlans at the village of Hartennes. 

"On the 2d September, 1914, a patrol of Uhlans 
passed through the village of Hartennes. The in- 
habitants had all taken refuge in the cellars of their 
houses. There were only three men in the village, the 



33° Germany's Violations 

rest of the population consisting entirely of women and 
children. 

"A French patrol of Dragoons, coming up on the 
other side of the village, opened fire on the Uhlans, who 
retreated. The Uhlans made this attack their pretext 
for declaring that the villagers had fired at them, and 
they proceeded to search for such inhabitants as still 
remained in the village. At first they only found 
women and children, but eventually they discovered 
the legs of the three men, who had hidden in a large 
pipe connected with the oven of a bakery. Without 
further inquiry the Uhlans closed up the end of the 
pipe after having filled the oven with burning straw. 
The three Frenchmen were soon dead, asphyxiated by 
the smoke, and the Uhlans then pulled out their bodies. 
These three men were buried near the village; their 
names were Eugene Brehaut, Leon Coursy, and Joseph 
Poulain. Their relatives living in the village can be 
called as witnesses." 

(Signed) J. H. Davidson, Major on the Staff 
of the 3d Corps 

(Signed) A. Huguet. 

No. 116 

DEPOSITION of the military hospital orderly, 
Martin, concerning the ill-treatment of a convoy 
of civilian prisoners. 



Of the Laws of War 33 1 

On April 28th, before us, Cuniac, examining magistrate at 
the Court of First Instance of Cahors, in our room in the 
Palais de Justice, attended by our clerk, the witness here- 
inafter named appeared at our request, and was instructed 
as to the facts concerning which his evidence was invited. 
After swearing to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing 
but the truth, and replying to our questions as to his name, 
age, status, profession, and domicile, and as to whether he 
was related to or a servant of the parties concerned, he 
made his deposition as follows: 

Elie Martin, aged 27, military hospital orderly of the 
7th Regiment of Infantry at Cahors, deposes: 



"I was mobilized on August 2d as hospital orderly 
attached to the 7th Company of the 7th Regiment of 
the Line, and I followed this regiment to the front. On 
September 2d, in the course of a night-attack, I was 
taken prisoner near Semide, in the district of Vouziers, 
I think. I was captured with some other orderlies, 
when we were bringing in the wounded. The Germans 
took us along with them on their march to Chalons. 
The column to which we were thus attached was com- 
posed of Wurtemberg regiments of various arms. 
Throughout this march we were kept almost entirely 
without food. As we passed through certain villages, 
I noted that requisitions were made, ostensibly for 
feeding the French prisoners, but the food thus ob- 
tained was distributed to the German soldiers. For 
thirty consecutive hours no ration was served out to us. 
The food we received consisted mainly of boiled rice 



33 2 Germany's Violations 

and black bread (Kriegsbrot). Sometimes we were 
tempted by hunger and thirst to attempt to pick up or 
gather an apple as we passed. We were invariably 
hurried on with kicks or blows from the butt-ends of 
rifles. 

"When we arrived at Signi-l'Abbaye (Ardennes), 
we were placed with other prisoners. On this occasion 
our escort was changed, and as we passed between two 
ranks of German soldiers, many of these hustled and 
struck us with the butts of their rifles. To be more 
exact, I ought to explain that we had marched with the 
column that took us prisoners as far as Chalons. There 
we were taken to the rear under the guard of an escort. 
We remained four or five days at the camp of Chalons. 
There we were put into a little building where we were 
packed closely together, and they threatened to shoot 
us if we made the slightest noise. From Chalons we 
were taken to Charleroi, passing through Signi- 
l'Abbaye, Juneville, Rocroy, and Marienbourg. During 
this march, I witnessed various acts of cruelty. Thus, 
on September 17th, there was an old man among the 
many civilians sent with us, who, showing signs of 
exhaustion, fell out from the column, and dropped into 
the ditch beside the road. Scarcely had I seen him fall 
when I heard a report. I looked round and saw a 
German soldier rejoining the column. This man 
had no doubt shot the old man. This happened near 
Signi-l'Abbaye. 



Of the Laws of War 333 

"Some time before, on September 13th, if I remember 
rightly, I saw twenty-three civilians, all old, who had 
been marked on the back the day before with a cross in 
white chalk, detached from the column. These men 
were taken up on a mound during a halt and were all 
shot by a volley about thirty yards from us. We must 
have been near Normans at the time. I never knew 
why these persons had been executed in this fashion. 
At Charleroi, or rather at a little station near this town, 
we had been put into a train composed of cattle-trucks, 
which took three days to get us to the camp at Alten- 
Grabow. We were so crowded in the trucks that it was 
impossible to lie down. Once a day only during the 
journey we received a small ration of boiled rice or black 
bread. Among us there were several wounded, some 
seriously injured. No doctor appeared. When pos- 
sible, we would sit down on the floor of the truck, for 
there was no straw. 

"At the camp of Alten-Grabow we were at first 
interned for a fortnight in a wooden stable, where we 
were allowed a few straw mattresses and blankets. 
Later we were lodged in wooden sheds. During my 
imprisonment I and my comrades were employed to 
tend the wounded. Those who could work were made 
to dig potatoes, to drain fields, or to draw ploughs, to 
which they were harnessed like beasts of burden. Our 
food was always abominable and insufficient. In the 
morning, a bitter mixture they called coffee was served 



334 Germany's Violations 

out; at noon the ration was generally boiled beetroot, 
and sometimes boiled rice; in the evening, a little hot 
water in which floated a few pieces of potato, or a lumpy 
porridge made of damaged bran. I never saw a scrap 
of meat, for I cannot call the very rare bits of bacon 
that sometimes appeared in the bran porridge — meat. 
For drink we had water which, however, I never touched. 
The slightest complaint was punished by a turn either 
at the ditch or the post. I never saw the so-called 
ditch. It appears that it was a hole about the depth 
of a man's height, and about a yard wide, and in 
this the prisoner was made to stand for several hours. 
The man condemned to the post was tied, either stand- 
ing or kneeling to a stake in an exposed place, and left 
in this position for two or three hours, in frost or ir 
sun. 

"Among us was an old man of certainly not less than 
seventy-five. He told us that he had been a prisoner 
at this same camp of Alten-Grabow in 1870. This man 
was too feeble to work, and as a punishment for this, 
he was one day tied to the post. After two or three 
hours of this torture had been inflicted on him, only a 
few steps away from me, I saw him die of exhaustion. 
The wounded among us were attended only by French 
or Belgian surgeons. We used to carry them to a 
special shed and after they had been seen we carried 
them back to their own sheds. They got just the same 
ration as the rest of us. As a result of this bad food 



Of the Laws of War 335 

there were a great many cases of gastric disease and 
dysentery. The men naturally suffered from obstinate 
constipation. I personally remained in this camp for 
about a month and a half. 

"On October 22d, if I remember rightly, several of us 
hospital orderlies were collected together to go to Mag- 
deburg en route for Switzerland, under the direction of 
French surgeons, and guarded by German soldiers. 
Throughout this journey, which we made in ordinary 
passenger trains, we were treated very well. As if to 
efface the recollections of our internment, we were 
taken to the buffets of all the principal railway stations, 
and during our journey, we received an abundance of 
food, consisting moreover mainly of sausages and other 
delicacies. In the camp of Alten-Grabow, we were 
mixed with Belgian, Russian, and English prisoners, 
and also with a number of French and Belgian civilians. 
One day I saw a convoy of 500 civilians arrive, com- 
posed exclusively of men of all ages. There were some 
of fourteen and others of eighty. I noticed that the 
English were always the worst treated. But indeed 
from the beginning of my captivity and throughout 
our march on French territory, I remarked that the 
English prisoners were the objects of quite special 
brutality. 

"I may add that once on this march, at Juneville, 
we were made to help in the transport of German 
munitions." 



336 Germany's Violations 

The witness confirms the above after having it read over 
to him. 

{Signed) Martin. 

{Signed) Cuniac. 

No. 117 

REPORT of the ill-treatment of certain old men 
of Champgityon {Marne) who were taken to 
Germany as prisoners. 

April 2, 19 1 5, 11.30 a.m. 

We the undersigned, Henri-Georges Petiot, Police-Ser- 
geant, and Appolon- Alexis Chariot, mounted Police Officer 
at the station of Epernay (Marne), wearing our uniform 
and under orders from our superior officers, being informed 
of the return of M. Alexandre Laplaige, agriculturist, aged 
66, to his home at Champguyon (Marne), after six months 
internment in Germany as a civilian prisoner, interrogated 
him and took down the following deposition: 

On September 6, 1914, at 8 p.m., when I was returning 
•to my house, after spending the day in the woods, I was 
surprised by German soldiers, who took me off to an 
artillery park near the village. I spent the night in 
their camp with my hands bound ; Messrs. Loir and 
Maricot of Champguyon were with me. The soldiers 
threatened several times to shoot us. 

After marching for four days we arrived at Chauny, 
where we remained for four days. We were then sent 
on to Germany by train. 



Of the Laws of War 337 

I was interned at the camp of Sennelager till January 
26th, and then at the camp of Holzminden. 

I left Holzminden on March 1st for Rastadt, arriving 
there on the 3d. Our release had been arranged and 
on the 13th I took the train to return to France, zid 
Switzerland. 

I arrived at Saint- Jodard (Loire) on March 15th, and 
on the 24th I was able to get a train for home, where I 
arrived on March 27th. 

During my detention in Germany I was not given 
any work to do, nor was I ill-treated. We were badly 
fed; the bread in particular was very bad, and also 
insufficient: we received 350 grammes of bad bread 
daily, coffee in the morning, vegetable soup at noon, 
and in the evening boiled rice or pearl barley. I never 
had any meat during my captivity. 

We slept in wooden sheds on straw which was never 
changed, and were devoured by vermin. 

I received letters pretty regularly. 

Those who had money were allowed to buy bread 
and honey. 

The bad and insufficient food did not make me ill; 
but I lost ten kilogrammes in weight. 

M. Laplaige, a robust man, bore his privations easily; 
his morale has not suffered. 

The commune of Champguyon was one of those 
which suffered most; twenty houses were burnt by the 
Germans; three men were shot; four civilians were 



32>8 Germany's Violations 

taken prisoners to Germany; one of them died in 
captivity. 

Two copies of the above made, one sent to the Provost- 
Colonel of the 5th Army, the other to the Chief of Police 
of the district. 

(Signed) Petiot. 

(Signed) Charlot. 

No. 118 

EXTRACT from a report by Brigadier Faucheur, 
commanding the Brigade at Fresnes, having 
reference to the proceedings of the German troops 
at Fresnes. 

On the 9th September, 19 14, the Brigade at Fresnes 
fell back on Haudiomont before the German invasion. 
On the 15th of the same month, the enemy having 
withdrawn, the brigade returned to its quarters. 

On the day 'on which the brigade withdrew, the 
enemy shot M. Francois Hubert Basse, Municipal 
Councillor, acting as Mayor of Fresnes, together with 
his son Hubert Basse, and the house in which they 
lived was burned. The wife of M. Basse, Junior, and 
Madame Levieux, widow, after having been ill-treated, 
were thrown into the fire, where they perished. The 
Town Hall, the Girls' School, and fifty other buildings 
were given over to the flames, and completely destroyed. 
Fifty-eight families lived in these houses. All their 



Of the Laws of War 339 

valuables, as well as a large quantity of linen and fur- 
niture, were stolen by the Germans, who loaded up their 
plunder upon motor-cars and carried it away in the 
direction of Marcheville. 

(Signed) Faucheur. 

No. 119 

EVIDENCE as to crimes committed by the 
Germans at Sainte-Barbe ( Vosges) . 

A 

I, the undersigned, Marie Denis, wife of Edouard Leroy, 
hereby state and declare that on the 26th August, 1914, 
at about 7.30 a.m., four German soldiers made their 
appearance in front of our barn. As the door was not 
opened quickly enough to please them, they kicked it 
open, after which one of them struck a match and set 
fire to a heap of straw, whereby the entire premises 
were destroyed. 

I swear to the absolute truth of this statement. 

Marie Denis, 

Sainte-Barbe, September 30, 1914. 

B 

We, the undersigned, Jean Baptiste, Thiebaut, rural 
watchman; Marie Colin, wife of the said Thiebaut; 
Delphine Mary, wife of Charles Thiebaut, and Celestin 
Haite, do certify that on the 26th September, 19 14, 



34° Germany's Violations 

some German soldiers entered the barn of the house of 
our aunt, Rosalie Haite, a paralysed woman, who lay 
in bed on the first floor. After taking us by the arms 
and compelling us to leave the house, one of the soldiers 
lit a match and set fire to six or seven bundles of straw. 
We tried to go back to save our aunt, asking their per- 
mission to do so, and telling them that she was lying 
ill on the first floor. But they refused to listen and 
pushed us roughly away. Thus our unfortunate aunt 
was burned alive under our very eyes, without our 
being allowed to render her any assistance. 

We swear to the absolute truth of this declaration. 
Sainte-Barbe, 2d October, 1914. 

Jean-Baptiste Thiebault, 
Celestin Haite, D. Mary, 
M. Colin. 

No. 120 

REPORT of General Esperey, commanding the 
$th Army, on breaches of international law com- 
mitted by the Germans at Chivy (Aisne). 

Headquarters of the 5th Army, 
November 3, 19 14. 

I have the honour to submit to you the precis made 
by Lieutenant-Colonel Daugan, commanding the 4th 
Tirailleurs, of information received by him concerning 
acts committed by the Germans when they occupied 



Of the Laws of War 341 

the village of Chivy. The following persons can bear 
witness to these acts: 

(1) Madame Coulon, born Grouzelles, a native of 
Paissy, whose husband rejoined the 29th Artil- 
lery at Laon, as a Territorial, on the mobilization ; 
her father, the said Grouzelles, a shepherd at 
Paissy, is still living. 

(2) Madame Coulon's young daughter, aged 14. 

(3) Two little boys, one aged 11, the other 4. 

This family was settled at Chivy when war was de- 
clared. M. Coulon was a farmer, and Mayor of the 
village. 

During their sojourn at Chivy, the Germans showed 
a marked anxiety to make the children talk; some of 
the soldiers spoke French fairly well. The inhabitants 
were not molested much in September, but they had to 
submit to the pillage of anything the enemy chose to 
take; the Germans would not wait till doors were 
opened for them, but broke them in with the butt-ends 
of their rifles or any handy implement. 

During their stay from September 24th to 28th, they 
arrested a young man of twenty, one Fernand Berger, 
of Chivy, forced him to put on a German uniform, and 
carried him off to the quarries at Cerny. On the 
evening of the 28th, after they had been driven out of 
Chivy, by the English (after September 23d, that is to 
say), they forced him to return to Chivy, accompanied 
by another young man, of Cerny, whose father was 



34 2 Germany's Violations 

taken as hostage, to answer with his life for the return 
of the two young men, and the faithful execution of 
their mission, which was to reconnoitre the English 
troops occupying the village, and report on them at 
Cerny. But when Fernand Berger and his companion 
arrived at Chivy, they fled to the English lines, accom- 
panied by the elder Berger, who feared that he too might 
be held to account for the disappearance of his son. 

Another youth of sixteen, Adrien Dumons of Chivy, 
who was taken away by the Germans at the beginning 
of their occupation had not reappeared when Madame 
Coulon left the district (October 9th). 

He was a farm-labourer, a native of Braye, working 
for one Polet of Chivy. He is small and slight and 
pale; the colour of his hair Madame Coulon does not 
remember (probably brown). 

On the morning of the 8th, the Germans reappeared 
in the village of. Chivy, and during this day they made 
no very hostile demonstrations, but at four o'clock on 
the morning of the 9th, they suddenly broke open cer- 
tain doors in their usual manner, and arrested eighteen 
persons at random. Some of these being old or infirm 
and unable to walk quickly were struck with the butt- 
ends of rifles and carried off towards the Paradis woods. 

The hostages were: 

The Roussy family: Theophile Roussy, the father, 
59, his wife, and their children, Raymond, aged 18, 
Marcel, aged 15, Andre, aged 12, Emile, aged 6; M. 



Of the Laws of War 343 

Pelletier, aged 76; M. Gouder, aged 50, and Madame 
Gouder; M. Archer, aged 50, and Madame Archer; 
M. Eloy, aged 55, and Madame Eloy and their daughter, 
aged 17; M. Laplace, aged 76; M. Villani, aged 75; 
Madame Lesieur, aged 60; Madame Conne, aged 62. 

The other inhabitants of Chivy then decided to flee 
to the French lines, and twenty-two of them appeared 
in the afternoon of the 9th in the English lines. The 
English sent them to Courcelles near Braine; whence 
Madame Coulon and her children got to Paissy, where 
she is living with her father, M. Grouzelles, shepherd 
at the farm of one Gros. Madame Coulon has been 
at Paissy since October nth. 

{Signed) D'Esperey, 

General commanding the 5th Army. 
By order— For the Chief of the Staff, 

GlRARD, 

Chief of the 2d Bureau. 
No. 121 

DEPOSITION of Private Guilluy describing 
the severities which he witnessed or endured at 
Lievin, and afterwards on board the "Amiral 
Gantheau,me.' n 

I was born at Lievin, Canton of Lens (Pas-de-Calais), 
where I and my father were both miners. On the day 
of the mobilization I was at Lievin. One of my 
brothers, Jean, aged twenty-four, left on the second day 



344 Germany's Violations 

of the mobilization and my other brother, Aime, aged 
twenty-nine, left on the third day. The mines stopped 
working. The Germans, a few of whom arrived at 
Lens before the battle of Bapaume, made a requisition. 
No violence was offered ; we went to look at them out of 
curiosity. After the battle of the Marne they took up a 
position west of Douai, where French troops (Turcos, 
cyclists, and artillerymen) also arrived in small numbers. 
About September 30th, the Germans advanced on the 
north-west of Douai, and every day they gained a mile 
or two. On October 2d or 3d they arrived at Lievin. 
As they were seizing all males from sixteen to sixty, 
my father told me to fly. I escaped with about twenty 
comrades, taking advantage of the darkness at 3 a.m. 
on October 3d. We fell in with a German cavalry patrol 
on the highway, and they made us turn back; they 
forced us to march for two days towards the north, 
without food of any kind, so that we were exhausted. 
On the third day, we were taken towards the firing line, 
and when we arrived at the outskirts of a wood where 
there was a bridge, they lined us up along the parapet. 
We were thus exposed to the fire of both Germans and 
French. The Germans were trying to take the wood, 
which the French were defending, and as they fired at 
the enemy, the French troops hit us. A number of 
my companions fell. I, with two others close to me, 
managed to slip away under the bridge. The struggle 
went on, the French losing ground a little; three or 



Of the Laws of War 345 

four French shells blew up the bridge, which buried all 
three of us beneath its fragments. We managed to 
free ourselves, and crawled along the ground for about 
a hundred yards, but the Germans saw us, and fired 
upon us both with rifles and machine-guns. My two 
comrades were wounded in the legs; nevertheless, 
helping one another, we crawled on for another 200 
yards, where we found two women who rescued us. 
We were able to get to the French lines, and my two 
companions were admitted to a hospital. I remained 
three weeks in the trenches with the soldiers of the 17th 
Regiment of Infantry, firing with them. I dressed my- 
self in the uniform of French soldiers who had been killed. 

Three weeks later, the French commandant ordered 
all stragglers not belonging to the r district (Nceux-les- 
Mines, Pas-de-Calais) to retire to Calais. Certain 
refugees from neighbouring places occupied by the 
Germans were indeed often tempted to return to their 
homes. The enemy allowed them to do so, took one 
member of a family as hostage, and then forced them 
to give information about the French troops. 

On October 25th, we arrived at Calais about midnight. 
The next day we left the harbour at two o'clock p.m. 
on the Amir at Gantheaume. An hour and a half later, 
about three miles from Boulogne-sur-Mer we were 
torpedoed by a German submarine. We saw the tor- 
pedo coming, and the explosion followed a second after. 
The captain sounded the siren and tried to stop up 



34 6 Violations of the Laws of War 

the holes, but the ship settled down in a quarter of an 
hour to a depth of about ten feet. We numbered 
about 2500 Belgian and French refugees. Happily, an 
English ship came to the rescue and took us off. We 
were landed at Folkestone, and then sent on to London, 
where we were taken in at the "Alexandra Palace." 
After twelve days here we were sent back by way of La 
Rochelle, whence we went on to Ariege. I was very 
kindly received by some worthy people who nursed 
me with great devotion, for after all these adventures, 
I was in a poor state of health. When I got well, I 
enlisted for four years at Saint-Gaudens, and was 
drafted into the 18th Regiment of Infantry at Pau. 

Camp of Ger, February 9, 19 15. 

{Signed) Raymond Guilluy. 

Private Raymond Guilluy, after hearing his statement 
read over, declared that it contained the truth, and that he 
confirmed it, and signed together with us, Theodore Heid 
commanding the detachment of the 18th Regiment of 
Infantry, and de Hoym de Marien, Major, commanding 
the camp at Ger, on the date given above. 

Raymond Guilluy. 
Major de Hoym de Marien, 
Commandant at Ger. 

Lieutenant Theodore Heid, 

Commanding the detachment 
of the 1 8th Regiment 

of Infantry. 

THE END 



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